One of the teenagers who killed three people at a San Diego mosque this week was flagged to law enforcement last year for exhibiting alarming behavior and idolizing Nazis, prompting police to confiscate his father's guns, according to court records reviewed by The Associated Press.
The 17-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released due to his age, was reported to authorities in 2025 after a school counselor noted his fixation on Nazi ideology and violent rhetoric. Police seized several firearms belonging to his father, but the teen was not charged at that time.
On May 20, 2026, the teen and a 16-year-old accomplice allegedly opened fire at the Dar-ul-Arqam mosque in San Diego, killing three people and wounding several others before being arrested. The attack has reignited debates about threat assessment and gun access for minors.
Authorities are investigating whether the teens acted alone or were influenced by extremist online networks. The FBI is leading the investigation, and the suspects are being held without bail.
