Active shooter reported at Islamic Center of San Diego, police say | full coverage

Key Concepts

• Active Shooter Incident: A high-priority police response to reports of gunfire at a religious institution.
• Reunification Point: A designated safe location (San Diego Claremont 7th Day Adventist Church) for families to locate children and loved ones during an emergency.
• Shelter-in-Place: A safety protocol where individuals remain inside a secure building to avoid potential threats.
• Containment: A tactical status indicating that law enforcement has secured the perimeter of an incident, though the scene remains active.
• Islamic Center of San Diego (ICSD): A large religious complex and school facility serving approximately 5,000 members.

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1. Incident Overview and Police Response

• Location: The Islamic Center of San Diego, located near the intersection of Balboa Avenue and the 805 freeway.
• Status: The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) declared the scene "active but contained."
• Traffic Impact: The 805 freeway northbound and southbound off-ramps at Balboa Avenue were closed for an unknown duration due to police activity.
• Police Presence: Over 50 police vehicles were reported on the scene, with officers conducting a room-by-room sweep of the multi-story facility to ensure safety.
• Official Communication: The Mayor of San Diego confirmed awareness of the situation and stated that emergency personnel were actively working to secure the area. Governor Gavin Newsom was also briefed on the situation in real-time.

2. Witness Accounts and Evidence

• Gunfire Reports: A local resident, Andre, reported hearing approximately 30 shots fired in three distinct bursts of about a dozen shots each, separated by pauses. He described the sound as consistent with a semi-automatic weapon.
• Emergency Response Time: The witness noted that police sirens and helicopters arrived on the scene within 5 to 10 minutes of his 911 call.
• Unconfirmed Reports: There were unconfirmed reports circulating online regarding a potential police chase involving a black SUV on the 805 freeway and claims of casualties, including a security guard. Media outlets emphasized that these details were pending official confirmation from law enforcement.

3. Impact on the Community and Schools

• Evacuation: Children from the school located within the Islamic Center were evacuated in an orderly fashion by law enforcement.
• Lockdowns: Several nearby schools, including a Hebrew school across the street, were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure.
• Reunification Process: To manage the influx of concerned parents and relatives, authorities established a reunification center at the San Diego Claremont 7th Day Adventist Church (4125 Hathaway Street).
• Human Impact: The report highlighted the emotional distress of parents and grandparents, including one grandmother who communicated with her grandchildren via a school app while they were sheltering in place.

4. Synthesis and Conclusion

The incident at the Islamic Center of San Diego triggered a massive multi-agency law enforcement response. While the situation was initially reported as an active shooter event, the primary focus of authorities shifted to securing the large, multi-room complex and facilitating the safe reunification of families. The event caused significant disruption to the surrounding area, including freeway closures and school lockdowns. As of the report, the scene remained contained, with media and the public awaiting official briefings from the San Diego Police Department to clarify the number of casualties and the nature of the suspect's actions.