Mosque shooter's parents sue mental health organization after Islamic Center killings

September 2, 2026 - 11:14

The parents of Caleb Vazquez, one of the two gunmen responsible for the 2023 mass shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the mental health organization that was treating their son before the attack. The suit, filed in San Diego County Superior Court, alleges that the facility failed to properly assess and report the teenager's escalating violent behavior and extremist views.

Vazquez, who was 18 at the time of the shooting, died during a standoff with police hours after the attack that left three worshippers dead and several others injured. His parents now argue that the mental health provider, which they did not name in the initial filing, had ample warning signs but did not take sufficient action to prevent the tragedy. According to the lawsuit, Vazquez had been receiving outpatient care for several months and had expressed admiration for past mass shooters, as well as a specific plan to attack the mosque.

The legal action claims that the organization's staff ignored direct statements from Vazquez about his intentions and failed to notify law enforcement or his family about the severity of his condition. The parents are seeking unspecified damages, stating that their son's actions were a direct result of negligent treatment and that the organization's failure to act led to both the loss of innocent lives and the death of their child.

The Islamic Center has not commented on the lawsuit, but community leaders have previously called for a thorough investigation into how both shooters, who were reportedly radicalized online, slipped through the cracks of the mental health and legal systems. The case is expected to bring renewed attention to the responsibilities of mental health professionals when patients make credible threats of violence.