Court records have revealed alarming warning signs surrounding one of the teens involved in the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, including alleged fascination with mass shooters, violent threats, and behavior that prompted police intervention more than a year before the attack.
According to filings obtained by NBC San Diego, Chula Vista police sought a gun violence restraining order against teenager Caleb Vazquez in January 2025 after classmates and school officials reported disturbing conduct. Investigators said Vazquez once came to school dressed as “Dexter,” the fictional serial killer from the television series of the same name, while also allegedly making comments about wanting a “day of retribution.”
Police documents stated the teen had expressed admiration for previous mass shooters, including perpetrators behind the 2011 Norway massacre and the 2019 El Paso Walmart shooting. Authorities described his online activity and statements as signs of “fixation on violence and extremist ideologies,” raising concerns about potential harm to himself or others.
The investigation began after students at High Tech High Chula Vista reported feeling unsafe when Vazquez allegedly warned one student not to come to school the following day. School administrators, who had reportedly already conducted multiple threat assessments involving the teen, contacted law enforcement.
During a welfare check at Vazquez’s home, officers said his father resisted requests to inspect how firearms were stored. Vazquez was later placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold for mental health evaluation, and a judge initially approved a gun violence restraining order. However, the order was later dismissed following a March hearing.
Court records also showed Vazquez’s father voluntarily removed 26 firearms and ammunition from the family home around the same time and placed the teen in therapy under increased supervision.
Despite those interventions, authorities said Vazquez and another teen he met online carried out the May 18 attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, killing three people. The victims were identified as security guard Amin Abdullah, caretaker Mansour Kaziha, and neighbor Nadir Awad, who attempted to help during the shooting.
Investigators said Abdullah’s quick actions helped save approximately 140 children inside the mosque by initiating a lockdown before he was killed.
After fleeing the mosque, the two teens reportedly opened fire on a landscaper several blocks away before ultimately turning the guns on themselves. The FBI later said the suspects left behind writings filled with extremist views and hatred targeting multiple groups.
Community members and activists have since questioned whether earlier warning signs should have led to stronger intervention measures.
Khalid Alexander, founder of the nonprofit Pillars of the Community and a friend of the victims, criticized authorities for failing to prevent the tragedy despite prior knowledge of the suspects’ behavior.
Residents attending vigils for the victims also called for stronger mental health support systems, improved internet safety awareness, and more proactive approaches to identifying and addressing extremist behavior among youth.
The attack has intensified conversations in San Diego about hate-driven violence, school threat assessments, mental health resources, and the effectiveness of existing preventative measures.