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Thousands Gather at Snapdragon Stadium for Funeral of Three Heroes Slain in San Diego Mosque Shooting
Thousands of mourners gathered outside Snapdragon Stadium on Thursday to observe the janazah funeral prayer for three community members who were shot and killed while protecting children during an attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego. The victims, hailed as martyrs and heroes, lost their lives on Monday morning when two heavily armed teenagers stormed the county largest mosque. Their courageous interventions successfully drew the gunmen away from the building, preventing them from accessing rooms where at least 140 school children and staff members were located.
The three fallen heroes were deeply woven into the fabric of the local Muslim community. Mansour Kaziha, affectionately known as Abu Ezz, had worked at the center for nearly forty years as a handyman, cook, and shopkeeper, famous for feeding hundreds during Ramadan fast-breaks. Nader Awad, who lived across the street from the center and was married to a teacher at the Islamic school, heroically ran toward the gunfire from his home to help guide others to safety.
Security guard Amin Abdullah engaged the suspects in a direct gun battle and spent his final moments radioing in a facility-wide lockdown, ensuring the safety of the children just fifteen feet away before succumbing to his injuries.
The massive funeral service was filled with intense grief, disbelief, and a shared call for community solidarity against hate. Friends and family members described the sudden loss as an unrecognizable nightmare, while local leaders emphasized that the gathering served as a collective declaration that love would ultimately prevail over violence. Following the emotional prayers at the stadium, the victims were transported to National City for burial at the only local cemetery that could accommodate three side-by-side graves on short notice. Community members pledged to stand united as federal and local authorities continue to investigate the deadly shooting as a targeted hate crime.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
May 21, 2026
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