Parents of 18‑year‑old Caleb Vazquez, who killed three people and then committed suicide at a San Diego mosque, have filed a lawsuit against Park Mental Health Treatment of San Diego. The lawsuit, filed in a San Diego court on August 31, claims the facility failed to act on warning signs that Vazquez posed an imminent threat to himself and others.
Vazquez was receiving treatment for depression and psychotic episodes at the time of the attack. According to the lawsuit, the mother alleges that the mental‑health center did not intervene despite indications that her son was planning violence. The filing follows other high‑profile cases in which guardians provided weapons to teens who later carried out mass shootings.
Federal Bureau of Investigation officials reportedly called Vazquez’s mother on the evening of May 14, after learning of his disturbing comments on the dark web. She left a message with the treatment facility and later informed his therapist and a program director on May 15. On May 18, the morning of the mosque shooting, staff notified the mother that Vazquez was missing; surveillance footage shows he left the property at 8 p.m. the night before.
Vazquez had been hospitalized for three days in January 2026 after telling a classmate he wanted to carry out a school shooting. A year earlier, police seized 26 guns from his father after he was flagged for extremist behavior. Authorities say Vazquez met 17‑year‑old Cain Clark online, and the two were radicalized together, but details about the weapons used remain undisclosed.
Park Mental Health has not responded to an email request for comment and previously told KPBS that it was not responsible for Vazquez’s actions. An FBI spokesperson declined to comment. The lawsuit was filed the same day North Carolina authorities announced the indictment of a 17‑year‑old in connection with the shooting.
