SUMMARY

Investigators are looking deeper into the motives of two teen gunmen who opened fire at an Islamic center in San Diego. Police say more than 30 guns were found at their homes, as well as a manifesto with hateful and white supremacist views. The shooting has sent shockwaves through the Muslim community in the U.S. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Edward Ahmed Mitchell of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations).

View the transcript of the story.

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. When did the shooting described in this segment happen?
2. Where did the shooting take place?
3. Who were the three individuals who were murdered at the mosque?
4. Why did the two teenagers target the mosque? What else did authorities learn from their manifesto (written declaration)?
5. What are some steps Edward Ahmed Mitchell of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) says must happen to decrease the level of anti-Muslim incidents? What does he say about the role of elected officials and their rhetoric (the words and way in which a person communicates)?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

• "So we have to start with our political leaders. They have got to stop fomenting hate against various Americans. This is all our country," said Edward Ahmed Mitchell of CAIR. What are the duties of elected officials in a democracy when it comes to their rhetoric (the words and way in which a person communicates)? How important is it for elected leaders to build unity and bring different groups of the country together?
• Do you think more money should be spent on protecting houses of worship? What about preventing hate crimes, including anti-Muslim hate?

Media literacy: Take a look at the graphic at the end of the story. How could you learn more about incidents of anti-Muslim hate and why they are on the rise? What about the work of civil rights organizations like CAIR?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO:

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said mosque security guard Amin Abdullah initiated a lockdown before he died in a shoot-out with the two suspects. "His actions, without a doubt delayed, distracted and ultimately deterred these two individuals from gaining access to the greater areas of the mosque, where as many as 140 kids were within 15 feet of these suspects," Wahl said.

PBS News Student Reporting Labs documentary, "Run, Hide, Fight: Growing Up Under the Gun" premiered on Oct. 9, 2024. Student reporter Sarah Youssef of San Diego, Calif. (pictured below) opens up the documentary by citing a very grim statistic: Gun violence is the number one cause of death for American children and teens according to the CDC.

Consider watching the documentary with your family (30 minutes) and discuss with one another what your initial reactions were and any questions you have afterwards. How much is the problem of gun violence brought up in news stories about mass shootings or hate crimes? Do you think it should play a greater role? Explain. See SRL's page here for more information.

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