(NEW YORK TIMES)

The three men killed at the Islamic Centre of San Diego were remembered on Tuesday as heroes who tried to save the lives of children and community members inside the mosque.

The men were identified by several Muslim organisations as Amin Abdullah, a security guard at the centre; Mansour Kaziha, manager of the mosque store; and Nader Awad.

Authorities said the three victims were shot and killed Monday by two teenagers, who killed themselves in a vehicle blocks away soon after.

The killings at the mosque were being investigated as a hate crime.

Abdullah, the security guard, was shot at least twice and fell before he stood and made his way inside to warn others in the centre, according to Vanessa Chavez, a neighbour who saw the shooting.

“He is the definition of a hero who bravely made the ultimate sacrifice to save others over himself,” the Islamic Centre of San Diego said in a statement.

Awad also turned away community members during the shooting and was recognised for saving additional lives, the groups said.

Kaziha was a community leader known as “Abu Ezz” and managed the mosque store for nearly 40 years, the organisation said. He was also a husband, father and grandfather.