Parents of San Diego mosque gunman say a mental health facility failed to heed FBI warning

Just days before a mass shooting at a San Diego mosque, federal officials had warned one of the shooters' parents that their son had made concerning comments about school shootings on the dark web, according to a recently filed lawsuit. The mother of Caleb Vazquez, the 18-year-old gunman, claims in her lawsuit that Park Mental Health Treatment of San Diego failed to intervene despite signs that her son posed a significant threat to himself and others.

Vazquez, who was receiving treatment for depression and psychotic episodes, was living at the facility at the time of the shooting. The FBI contacted Vazquez's mother on the evening of May 14 and she immediately reported the warning to the treatment center and his therapist. On May 18, the morning of the shooting, facility employees informed her that her son had gone missing.

Surveillance footage showed Vazquez leaving the facility the night before. His parents were searching for him the next morning when the attack occurred. It remains unclear whether Vazquez was permitted to leave the facility that night or if he violated facility rules in doing so. Park Mental Health disputes the lawsuit's claims, stating that only Vazquez and his co-conspirator are responsible for their actions.

The FBI spokesperson declined to comment on the matter, citing policy. The lawsuit comes shortly after high-profile convictions of guardians who provided teenagers with weapons used in mass shootings. Vazquez had previously been hospitalized in January 2026 after threatening to carry out a school shooting. A year prior, he was flagged by law enforcement for exhibiting concerning behavior and idolizing Nazis, leading to the confiscation of 26 guns from his father under a 2014 California law.