The number of victims in the shooting at the mosque in San Diego has now been confirmed — far more shocking than many expected.

Reporters in the U.S., citing local police sources, confirmed that a shooting occurred at a mosque complex in San Diego on May 18. The incident left three people dead, including a security guard, before the two suspects later took their own lives inside a nearby vehicle.

According to the San Diego Police Department, emergency response teams discovered the adult male victims outside the Islamic Center of San Diego before later finding the two suspects also deceased.

Scott Wahl stated that the suspects, believed to be 17 and 19 years old, died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

  =

Police Chief Wahl also revealed that one of the three victims was a mosque security guard who played a “critical role” in preventing the death toll from becoming even higher.

Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the shooting and currently believe the attack may have been driven by hate-related motives “until proven otherwise.”

Earlier, San Diego police announced that the threat at the mosque in the Clairemont area had been neutralized and the scene secured.

According to a White House official, Donald Trump had been briefed on the shooting.

Meanwhile, in California, police in Los Angeles said they would increase patrols around mosques, Islamic centers, and other religious facilities across the city, which is located about two hours north of San Diego by car.

Authorities emphasized that no specific threats have currently been identified in Los Angeles.