Interfaith support at Evergreen Islamic Center

Friday prayers at San Jose’s Evergreen Islamic Center drew Muslim worshippers as well as Christian and Jewish supporters days after a May 18 shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego killed three people, according to NBC Bay Area. The South Bay’s Abrahamic Alliance organized the interfaith show of support, NBC Bay Area reported. The gathering came as San Diego police continued to investigate the earlier attack as a hate crime. Police in San Diego said two teenage shooters opened fire outside the mosque and later died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. ### Why did people from other faiths show up at Evergreen Islamic Center? The South Bay’s Abrahamic Alliance organized the visit to Evergreen Islamic Center to reassure Muslim worshippers after the San Diego shooting, NBC Bay Area reported. Christian and Jewish allies joined Muslims for Friday prayers in San Jose, the station said. Friday’s gathering was framed as a visible act of support after the killings in San Diego. (nbcbayarea.com) NBC Bay Area reported that worshippers arriving at Evergreen Islamic Center were met by people from other faith communities who wanted to stand with them after the attack. ### What happened in San Diego that prompted the gathering? San Diego police said the shooting happened around 11:45 a.m. on Monday, May 18, at the Islamic Center of San Diego in the Clairemont neighborhood. (nbcbayarea.com) Three people, including a security guard, were killed outside the mosque, according to NBC 7 San Diego’s recap of police statements. Two suspects were later found dead in a vehicle blocks away with self-inflicted gunshot wounds, police said. Police Chief Scott Wahl said authorities were investigating the attack as a hate crime. NBC 7 San Diego reported that police found evidence the suspects had engaged in what Wahl described as “generalized hate rhetoric.” ### Where is Evergreen Islamic Center, and why was it part of the response? Evergreen Islamic Center is in San Jose’s Evergreen area, where it serves local Muslim families with prayer, education and community programs, according to the mosque’s website. (nbcsandiego.com) NBC Bay Area identified the mosque as the site of Friday’s interfaith gathering. San Jose’s South Bay Muslim community responded quickly after news of the San Diego shooting spread. (nbcsandiego.com) NBC Bay Area said the event at Evergreen Islamic Center was intended to help worshippers feel supported and safe as they came to pray. ### What did officials say about safety and the wider response? San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump were briefed after the May 18 shooting, NBC 7 San Diego reported. (eicsanjose.org) Police also said the Islamic Center of San Diego includes a school and that all children there were safe. (nbcbayarea.com) Scott Wahl, the San Diego police chief, said more details about the circumstances leading up to the attack would emerge in the days ahead. NBC 7 San Diego reported that officers had already been looking for one of the teenagers after his mother called police to say he was suicidal and had run away with missing weapons and a vehicle. (nbcsandiego.com) ### What happens next for the communities involved? Evergreen Islamic Center’s website lists continuing prayer services, youth programs and community events in San Jose. San Diego police, meanwhile, said their investigation into the May 18 shooting was ongoing. May 18 remains the key date in the San Diego case, and Friday’s interfaith gathering in San Jose showed how quickly Bay Area faith groups moved to respond. (nbcsandiego.com) The next public developments are likely to come from San Diego police updates and from regular services and events at Evergreen Islamic Center. (nbcbayarea.com) (eicsanjose.org)