The three men killed were identified at a news conference as Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kazlha and Nadir Awad.Show Caption
Loved ones have begun to share their memories of the three men killed at a San Diego mosque, as donations pour in to support their families.Two suspects opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego shortly before noon on May 18 in an attack that is being investigated as a hate crime, police said.The three men killed were identified at a news conference as Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kazlha and Nadir Awad. They were heralded as heroes for their bravery in confronting the shooters.Authorities said Abdullah, a security guard at the center, opened fire at the gunmen and the two men drew the attention of the shooters back out into the parking lot.The center described the "courageous" men as "three pillars of our community," in a statement."Their absence leaves a void that can never truly be filled," the center said. "They were more than community members, they were family."Here's what we know about the victims of the San Diego mosque shooting:'Heroic' security guard rememberedAbdullah, a father of eight, was a longtime security guard at the mosque. More than $1.8 million has been raised for his family.Mayte Gutierrez, who worked for five years as an administrator at the Islamic center's school, remembered bonding with Abdullah because they both converted to Islam. She said he was extremely vigilant and beloved at the center."He greeted everyone who would come into the center," Gutierrez, 34, said. "He was loved by the students and the teachers."During his time off, Abdullah often went to the gun range or honed his archery skills. On his Facebook page, he posted videos of himself firing arrows at targets in his backyard. Gutierrez said he would often talk about his love of archery and the latest bow-and-arrow he made by hand.In a video shared by CAIR San Diego, Abdullah said he was born and raised in San Diego, and his favorite food is "halal hamburgers, obviously." The organization said on social media Abdullah "always had a smile on his face, warmly greeting anyone and everyone who entered the masjid."San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the security guard died in a gun battle with the suspects and called his actions "heroic.""His actions, without a doubt, delayed, distracted and ultimately deterred these two individuals from gaining access to the greater areas of the mosque, where as many as 140 kids were within 15 feet of these suspects," Wahl said.Grandfather who worked at mosque for decades among victimsOmar Abusham, programs and outreach coordinator for the San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Kazlha had attended the mosque since it was originally built and had served the community for nearly four decades. He said Kazlha leaves behind a wife, five children and grandchildren."He ran the store but he was also a big part of helping day-to-day operations within the mosque," Abusham said. "And anything the community needed, he was there to support."Imam Taha Hassane echoed that, saying Kazlha served as a handyman, cook, caretaker and more."In the last 22 years being the Imam and director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, I have never done anything without him," Hassane said. "He is on the top of my list for people to call."Husband of teacher at the school ran to the sceneAwad has long lived near the mosque, and his wife is a teacher at the Islamic Center of San Diego, Abusham said. When the gunfire broke out, Awad ran to the scene, according to Abusham."He lives very, very close," Abusham said. "He could hear the shots."Hassane said Awad, who went to the mosque to pray every day, died in the parking lot alongside Kazlha."Unfortunately, they sacrificed their lives to protect the entire community inside the Islamic Center of San Diego," Hassane said.
