Police Seized Weapons From San Diego Gunman a Year Before Attack

San Diego investigators say police had already seized firearms from the family home of Caleb Vazquez more than a year before the deadly attack on a local mosque. The 2025 intervention followed warnings that the suspect was becoming fixated on mass shooters and Nazi ideology. Records cited by investigators indicate that officers removed dozens of weapons from the home in an effort to reduce a perceived threat.

Vazquez, who is 20, is the primary suspect in the shooting that occurred on May 18, 2026, at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Three people died during morning prayers when a gunman entered the facility and opened fire. Detectives are now reviewing the gap between the earlier seizure and the attack to determine how the suspect obtained the weapon used in the assault.

Family members broke their silence on May 21, 2026, saying their son had been radicalized through extremist online spaces. They described Vazquez as autistic and said he had become vulnerable to digital manipulation. Their statement acknowledged the pain inflicted on the victims, their families and the broader Muslim community in Southern California.

Police Intervention and Previous Red Flags

Legal filings from the previous year show that the San Diego Police Department received specific warnings about the suspect's behavior before the mosque attack. Officers removed long guns and handguns from the residence after determining that the situation presented a public safety risk. California law allows courts and police to remove firearms when credible evidence suggests that someone may pose a danger to themselves or others.

Vazquez's father cooperated with authorities during that earlier intervention and surrendered the collection. Investigators have not publicly confirmed whether the weapon used in the mosque attack was newly acquired, hidden from the earlier seizure or obtained through another route. That unresolved question is now central to the criminal inquiry.

"Our son was brainwashed by a dark corner of the internet that preys on the vulnerable," the Vazquez family stated in their formal apology to the victims.

Online radicalization has become a central focus for the Federal Bureau of Investigation as it assists local teams. Digital forensic experts are analyzing devices and accounts to map the suspect's contacts, viewing habits and possible exposure to hate groups. The inquiry is expected to examine whether any online community encouraged the attack or helped amplify it afterward.

Livestreaming the Violence

Evidence retrieved from social media servers indicates that the attack was broadcast live to a small audience. At least three people watched the livestream as it happened, according to CBS News reports. One recording captures a viewer telling another participant to contact law enforcement, though the delay between the broadcast and the first 911 call remains under review. The attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego follows a previous security-related fatality at the same location.

Community leaders said the livestreaming of such violence can give attackers the notoriety they seek and can expose victims' families to further trauma. The digital element has prompted renewed scrutiny of private streaming groups where extremist material can circulate with little outside visibility. Prosecutors are also reviewing whether any conduct surrounding the broadcast supports additional charges.

Thousands of mourners attended funeral prayers for the three victims on Thursday, filling the mosque and surrounding parking areas. Residents from across the state traveled to San Diego to support the grieving families. Local leaders emphasized that the congregation would continue to gather despite the fear created by the attack.

Islamic Center officials said they are working with the Department of Homeland Security to review safety protocols. The open nature of a religious service makes prevention difficult, even when a facility has surveillance and security planning in place. Security funding for houses of worship has therefore returned to the state and federal policy agenda.

Public officials have pledged mental health resources for survivors and witnesses who were present during the shooting. The recovery process for the San Diego community is expected to take years as legal proceedings against Vazquez move forward. He remains in custody without bail while prosecutors prepare the next stage of the case.

Security Implications

The case shows why firearm removal orders can reduce immediate danger without resolving every risk around a person already moving through extremist spaces. Red flag tools are designed to separate dangerous individuals from weapons, but they do not by themselves address ideology, online grooming or later access to another firearm. Investigators will need to determine whether the earlier seizure exposed a missed opportunity or whether the suspect found a path around safeguards that were working as designed at the time.

The livestream adds another security problem. A local attack can become a real-time propaganda event if viewers fail to report it quickly or if platforms cannot detect violent streams before they spread. Future policy debates are likely to focus on faster reporting channels, clearer duties for moderators and better coordination between local police, federal investigators and houses of worship facing credible threats. The prior weapons seizure will now be central to any review of whether warning signs were handled with enough urgency.