Arabic version: المجتمع يكرم أبطال إطلاق النار في مسجد سان دييغو

Three men who died during a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego are being hailed as heroes for their courageous actions in protecting children during the attack. According to ABC News, the victims, 51-year-old Amin Abdullah, 57-year-old Nadir Awad, and 78-year-old Mansour Kaziha, lost their lives while attempting to thwart the two teenage gunmen who entered the mosque on Monday.

The shooting occurred when approximately 140 children were present in the building. As the attackers advanced, Abdullah, a security guard, confronted them, exchanging gunfire and alerting others to take shelter. Despite being wounded, he continued to delay the gunmen, ultimately sacrificing his life outside the mosque.

Kaziha and Awad also confronted the assailants in the parking lot, with Kaziha managing to make an emergency call to 911 before they were fatally shot. Local authorities have praised their actions, stating that these men prevented a potentially greater tragedy.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with local police and the FBI treating it as a hate crime. The suspects, identified as Caleb Vasquez and Cain Clark, were found dead in their vehicle shortly after the incident. A manifesto linked to the attackers has been discovered, but details remain undisclosed. Authorities have also seized over 30 firearms related to the suspects.