Parents say their son was brainwashed online before San Diego mosque attack

The family of 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez says he was radicalized by hateful content online before he and a teen accomplice killed three people at a San Diego mosque.

It is a parent's worst nightmare to find out their child has committed a horrific act of violence. The family of Caleb Vazquez is now speaking out, claiming their son was led down a dark path by online extremists.

What happened

Caleb Vazquez and 17-year-old Cain Clark attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego this past Monday. The two teens opened fire on the community, killing three people: Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad.

The pair livestreamed the entire attack as it happened. After the shooting, they fled the scene in a white BMW.

Inside the car, the situation turned even more violent. At the urging of Vazquez, Clark shot Vazquez in the head twice, killing him. Clark then took his own life.

What the evidence shows

• Three victims were killed: Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad.
• The attackers were 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez and 17-year-old Cain Clark.
• The entire attack was broadcast live on the internet.
• The shooters fled the scene in a white BMW before the final confrontation.
• Vazquez died from two gunshot wounds to the head before Clark killed himself.

The bigger question

How does a teenager go from living at home to carrying out a mass shooting? We have to look at the digital spaces where these kids spend their time.

Are we doing enough to monitor the echo chambers that turn isolated teens into violent actors? It is time to ask if the platforms hosting this content are doing enough to stop the spread of hate.

The other side

The family of Caleb Vazquez has issued a formal apology, stating they condemn the violence and reject the hateful ideology that drove their son. They claim these actions do not reflect the values they taught at home. This defense focuses on the influence of external online forces rather than the home environment.

What happens now

This tragedy leaves a community in mourning and a city searching for answers. Families are left to wonder how to protect their children from the toxic corners of the internet.

Law enforcement will continue to investigate how these two teens connected and planned this attack. This will likely spark new debates about online safety and how we track radicalization in young people.

What we still don't know

1. Which specific websites or forums were used to radicalize the two teens?
2. Did anyone else know about the plan before the shooting started?
3. How long were the two teens communicating before they decided to attack?

SOURCE NOTE

: All charges are allegations - Caleb Vazquez is presumed innocent until proven guilty.*