Community mourns beloved San Diego Muslim security guard killed in the line of duty
Listen to this article
Average 4 minutes
The audio version of this article was created by AI-based technology. It can be mispronounced. We are working with our partners to continuously review and improve the results.
One of the three people killed by two young shooters at a San Diego mosque was a beloved security guard who acted quickly to prevent more deaths, authorities and community members said.
Amin Abdullah was a security guard who greeted everyone who arrived at the Islamic Center of San Diego with a smile and the traditional Arabic greeting of Muslims “as-salamu alaikum” or “peace be upon you,” according to Mahmood Ahmadi, a longtime attendee of the mosque.
Authorities have not released the names of the three victims. But family friend Shaykh Uthman Ibn Farooq identified Abdullah, saying he spoke to one of Abdullah’s sons when the family began making funeral arrangements.
“He wanted to protect the innocent and decided to become a security guard,” said Farooq.
Abdullah had worked at the mosque for more than ten years. He was there almost every day and was devoted to his wife and nine children, Farooq said.
Three men were killed in a shooting at San Diego’s largest mosque that police say may have been a crime. Two young suspects were found dead in the car.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the mosque guard, without naming Abdullah, “played an important role” in preventing the attack from becoming more deadly.
“It is fair to say that his actions were heroic,” the king said on Monday. “You definitely saved lives today.”
The Islamic Center of San Diego is one of the largest mosques in San Diego and attracts thousands of people from all over the region during the major holidays. In addition to having prayers five times a day, it serves dinner and breakfast during the Ramadan fast, hosts a school for Arabic and Islamic studies and has a shop inside.
Abdullah was raised a Christian and described in a 2019 YouTube video his journey to Islam after graduating from high school.
“My mother saw a change in me,” she said. “I’m starting to help around the house, out of respect, I got a job.”
‘I always smile, I care’
Farooq said he met Abdullah soon after he became a Muslim in the 1990s. Recently, they had taken a trip to Mecca together. Abdullah always had a positive attitude, even when he was sick during the trip, Farooq said.
“Even when he was sick, he was a light-hearted, sincere person who always smiled and always took care of others,” said Farooq.
Josie-Ana Edenshaw still remembers meeting Abdullah on her first visit to the mosque. She was stressed and didn’t know where to park when he lifted her up to help her.
Edenshaw said the community was devastated by Abdullah’s death. In the church’s WhatsApp group, a teacher who was at the school at the time of the shooting explained that Abdullah called an “active shooter” on his walkie-talkie when he saw the shooters, alerting the staff and teachers inside. The teacher was not available for interview.
“Every day those kids had an amazing bodyguard protecting them,” Edenshaw said. “That’s something that will affect them every day for the rest of their lives.”
Abbas Rakhmatov, who has been attending this mosque for three years, was shaken after attending the morning just before the incident. He said Abdullah took his duties seriously, always walking and checking the grounds.
“He was an example for all of us,” said Rakhmatov. “We always smile, we always care about our community.”
