On May 18, 2026, the Islamic Center of San Diego was attacked, leaving three community members dead, including 78-year-old Mansour Kaziha. Known affectionately as Abu Ezz, Kaziha served the mosque for decades as a handyman, cook, and caretaker and was described as a welcoming presence to congregants and visitors.

The mosque’s security guard, Amin Abdullah, first confronted the shooters and was fatally wounded after warning others over his radio. Kaziha and another community member, Nadir Awad, drew the attackers out into the parking lot; they were both shot and killed while doing so, actions credited with diverting the attackers away from classrooms full of children.

Investigators classified the attack as a hate crime after finding writings and online activity linking the two assailants to white supremacist ideology. The two suspects, identified as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, were later found dead in a vehicle from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds, so there were no arrests in the murders of Kaziha, Abdullah, and Awad.

Does anyone who knew Mansour Kaziha or the mosque community have information or memories to share about him?