by Misty Severi
San Diego authorities confirmed Tuesday that the two suspected shooters in Monday’s attack on an Islamic Center left behind a hate-filled manifesto that shed light into the motives of the crime.
The suspects have been identified by San Diego police as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, and the pair died from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
The manifesto includes the same Nazi imagery that Clark donned in a livestream video of the attack, the Black Sun and Atomwaffen symbols, which are linked to Nazi Germany sympathizers, according to the New York Post.
“I am a straight male. I am certainly not left wing, nor am I right wing — especially not with MAGA or Trump. Politically, I’d call myself a Third Positionist, specifically aligning most with National Socialism and eco-fascism, though any form of Third Positionism,” Vazquez allegedly wrote in the memo.
“The number one goal of this New Crusade is to restart and bring back the momentum that Saint Tarrant had started, to convince many other would be Saints that the time is now, and most importantly to kick start the race war,” he continued. “What was I religiously? It doesn’t really matter at the end of the day. As a friend once said, my religion is the white race.”
The manifesto also details the pair’s beliefs, and derogatory and racist views targeting a number of groups including Muslims, Jews and gay people.
Authorities said they are still going through the manifesto and other writings, but the two suspects met and were radicalized online. Investigators are also looking into their devices and online postings to see how they were radicalized, per the LA Times.
On Monday, after the shooting, Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Newsom, said they were “horrified” by the “violent attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where families and children gather, and neighbors worship in peace and fellowship.”
“California sends our deepest condolences to the families and communities impacted by today’s shooting. Worshippers anywhere should not have to fear for their lives. Hate has no place in California, and we will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith. Thank you to the brave law enforcement officers and first responders who acted swiftly to protect the children and worshippers. To the San Diego Muslim community: California stands with you,” they said.
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Misty Severi is a reporter for Just the News. Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network and contributed to this story.
Photo “Crime Scene Tape” by Tony Webster. CC BY-SA 4.0.
