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CNN Headlines: Three Killed In Shooting At San Diego's Largest Mosque; Kentucky Voters To Decide Fate Of Trump Foe Thomas Massie; Experts Warn "Q-Day" Could Arrive Earlier Than Anticipated. Aired 5- 5:30a ET
Aired May 19, 2026 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:22]
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us in this country, and this is an American tragedy.
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BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: An investigation is underway after a shooting at a San Diego mosque. It left three people dead. It is the largest mosque in San Diego, and one of those was a security guard who was being hailed a hero.
Firefighters are racing to contain a raging brush fire in California. More than 33.000 people have now been ordered to evacuate, with thousands more in the danger zone.
And don't look up. A school bus-sized asteroid zooms past Earth. That's the good news. Bad news is nobody knew it was coming until a few days before. And everybody loves punch the monkey, right? Some people a little too much. We'll show you how this close encounter ended for the costumed intruder.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Brad Smith, this is CNN headline express. Glad that you're with us this morning.
Let's get this started. Our top story this morning three dead in San Diego's largest mosque shooting. Children we're learning inside. Hate speech scrawled in one of the weapons, and officials are telling CNN more about what they know. The attack is under investigation as a hate crime.
One of the men killed is a security guard with eight children himself. He's being hailed as a hero
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I truly know in my heart from knowing that man, that he was sacrificing his life and took that bullet, knowing that I'd rather take it than the kids. And that is what makes me emotional.
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SMITH: Two teens were found nearby, dead from self-inflicted wounds, according to officials. One identified as 17 year old whose mother warned police hours beforehand.
CNN's Sherrell Hubbard has more with what we know.
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SHERRELL HUBBARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Scores of police cars responded to the Islamic center of San Diego Monday following reports of an active shooter.
CHIEF SCOTT WAHL, SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT: We have three confirmed adults that are deceased at the Islamic center.
HUBBARD (voice-over): Police say a security guard was among those killed at the mosque. Authorities are still trying to determine the details surrounding the shooting, but police believe that two people found dead in a car nearby from a self-inflicted gunshot wounds were the suspects.
Chief Scott Wahl provided additional information about the mother who alerted them about her son.
WAHL: She believed her son was suicidal and she began to share information that several of her weapons were missing. Her vehicle was missing, in addition to her son.
HUBBARD (voice-over): Police say they are considering the shooting a hate crime. The Islamic Center in San Diego is the largest mosque in San Diego county, according to its website. The site includes a school.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Look, as theyre bringing people out of the building and --
HUBBARD (voice-over): And police say no children were hurt.
WAHL: I tell you what got me. Watching the kids come running out just thankful to be alive.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I could hear the officers shouting to evacuate in the background. And it was, you know, paralyzing and so frightening. And at the same time, you know, I had to drop everything and come directly to make sure, you know, our community is safe and theyre okay. And they know that theyre not alone, and this really an insane time.
HUBBARD (voice-over): I'm Sherrell Hubbard, reporting.
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SMITH: The Islamic Center of San Diego says its deeply grateful for its first responders, and that it would remain closed until further notice as the community mourns. Later on in the show, CNN's John Miller talks about the similarities of this case to other hate crimes.
Let's get you to some of the other news of the day as well.
Powerful storms coming to life in central U.S. Monday evening. In one case, triggering a rare tornado emergency in southeastern Nebraska. This is all part of a multi-day, severe weather outbreak that spun up this stove pipe tornado, as it's called. This is about halfway between Omaha and Kansas City that that hits.
Now further east in Michigan, strong winds, they blew down trees and knocked out power for thousands. This daycare building took severe damage. A neighbor describes exactly what happened.
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RON MARTIN, WITNESSED SEVERE WIND DAMAGE TO MICHIGAN DAYCARE: We came out, looked at our trees that were almost bent over, and I told my wife, we got to look out the back windows, and we went out there and pieces of the roof were flying through the air.
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SMITH: Fortunately, officials say that no one was hurt.
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Let's look ahead now. The risk, it actually decreases today. But be on the lookout for severe storms from Texas to the Eastern Great Lakes, as you're taking a look at this radar and this map on your full screen. Later on, we're going to have a full forecast for you later this hour.
Meanwhile, out west, in the hills above Simi Valley, north of L.A. a fast-moving brush fire forcing evacuations for tens of thousands and closing the nearby Ronald Reagan presidential library. The cause is under investigation.
Turning international here, president Trump says that the U.S. is pulling back for now from a planned military strike on Iran, just hours before it was set to happen today. Speaking yesterday, Trump said that hell hold off citing requests from leaders in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE who believe negotiations with Iran may finally be gaining traction. But the pause comes with a clear warning, as Trump says that he's ordered the military to stand by writing on truth social, he said he has told U.S. military leaders to be ready to move forward with a large scale assault if an acceptable deal is not reached.
Meanwhile, the president is sticking to his message that an end to the war and relief at the pump may be close. At a telerally for Kentucky voters ahead of today's primary, Trump said gas prices could drop quickly once the fighting stops. Here's what he told supporters
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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UUNITED STATES: Gasoline is going to come tumbling down as soon as the war is over, and they want it. Iran wants it to end soon. They've taken big punishment and it's very simple. They cannot have a nuclear weapon to blow up Kentucky and to blow up every place else. We're not going to let that happen. So we're getting very close.
And as soon as we get that one finished, you're going to see the gasoline and energy is going to come tumbling down.
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SMITH: And while high gas prices may be top of mind for many Americans, Trump said that the bigger concern is Iran's nuclear threat, calling the country stone cold crazy.
In response to the ongoing discussions, Iran's president says, quote, dialogue does not mean surrender. The Islamic Republic of Iran enters into dialogue with dignity, authority and the preservation of the nation's rights, and under no circumstances will it retreat from the legal rights of the people and the country.
We are just a few hours away from polls opening up in today's primary elections, and they'll determine who lands on the ballot in the crucial midterms come November, which could change the balance of power in Washington, D.C.
Some of the most closely watched races are unfolding in Kentucky, Georgia and Pennsylvania. We've got those states highlighted on your screen as president Trump's retribution campaign against his perceived political enemies is kicking into high gear. He's now seeking to oust Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and is throwing all his weight behind his challenger, Ed Gallrein.
Massie has opposed some of the president's top legislative priorities, including the war with Iran and the so-called Big, Beautiful Bill. He also voted with Democrats to release the Epstein files
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TRUMP: In the Oval Office, and we're in a fight against the worst congressman in the history of our country. His name is Thomas Massie. He's from Kentucky. I hope you're going to put him out of business tomorrow.
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SMITH: Let's go to CNN's Jeff Zeleny for more.
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JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: One of the most expensive and certainly vitriolic Republican primary campaigns is coming to a close here in Kentucky, as voters on Tuesday will decide this primary race between Congressman Thomas Massie and challenger Ed Gallrein.
Now, President Trump has been keeping a very close watch on this, endorsing Gallrein also handpicking him for the position. But Thomas Massie, who's running for his eighth term, has a long connection with voters here as well. We caught up with him right before the final event here in Vanceburg, Kentucky. He spoke with an air of optimism.
REP. THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): I think I'm going to win, actually. I think that's why theyre panicked. Look, why would the president post on social media 10 times in 24 hours? Why would the secretary of war come to Kentucky? If they thought they had this in the bag? And theyre desperate because theyre in with both feet and they've pushed in all their chips. When they lose this, it's going to be cataclysmic for the -- for the establishment in D.C.
ZELENY: On the final day of campaigning, Gallrein brought in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth an unusual trip for a defense secretary to be on the campaign trail. He called Massie an obstructionist and urged voters here to send him out of office. So there's no doubt there is a test here of loyalties between President Trump and Congressman Thomas Massie, who grew up right here in this district. It is one of the latest examples, potentially, of the revenge tour that President Trump is trying to enact on Republicans who do not fall in line with him, Massie said he believes that voters like what he's done in office. Of course, the primary on Tuesday will determine the outcome of this race.
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Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Vanceburg, Kentucky.
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SMITH: Thank you, Jeff.
New this morning, a breakthrough for commuters in New York. A deal is in place to end the strike on the nation's largest commuter railroad, but unfortunately, not in time for this mornings rush hour. The unions reached a deal with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, aka the MTA, on Monday. After three days of marathon negotiations, they finally get to this point.
And now, about 3,500 workers are set to return, with train service coming back in phases starting at noon today. The deal still needs union approval, so service could be interrupted again if members voted down. The terms of the agreement have not yet been released.
Well, an American doctor working in Africa tests positive for Ebola. That is straight ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. The latest on this virus now linked to more than 100 deaths.
And an almost $1.8 billion fund of taxpayer dollars created for allies of the president. Even some of the January 6th rioters could benefit. And the move is not sitting well with many.
Also something called Q-Day has cybersecurity experts warning of a technological disaster that could affect your everyday lives.
Stick around. We've got the details. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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SMITH: Well, new this morning, an American doctor working in Central Africa has tested positive for Ebola. The CDC did not identify the patient. The international charity Serge reported that Christian missionary physician Dr. Peter Stafford had tested positive. He and his wife, also a physician, have been treating patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She is currently being monitored and is asymptomatic.
Health officials say more than 130 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda, with hundreds of suspected cases. The World Health Organization is calling this a global health emergency, warning that the outbreak could get much bigger.
Now, in response, the CDC is restricting entry into the U.S. for some travelers from the region using a public health rule that was last used during the COVID pandemic. One U.S. doctor says aid cuts and the lack of an effective vaccine for this strain could make things more complicated. Here's how he explains it
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DR. PETER HOTEZ, PROFESSOR, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: The U.S. government has pulled out of USAID, so that's let down our ability for diagnosis. So that's what I'm watching very closely, particularly with the World Cup coming up. And people are going to be traveling all over the world. This one, you know, put your tray table in the upright position, your seat belt fastened.
This is going to be a complicated one. When there was a very large one in eastern DRC, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in 2019, we had a vaccine available because it was the Zaire strain for which we had a very effective, 90 percent effective vaccine, using the vesicular stomatitis virus technology. This particular Ebola epidemic is about 60 to 70 percent homologous in terms of genome, and probably that vaccine won't cross protect.
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SMITH: The CDC is sending in teams already on the ground to ramp up testing, tracking and lab work with more support coming from Atlanta.
More in health express, while we're on the topic. The Trump administration rolling back key Biden era limits on so-called forever chemicals, or PFAS in drinking water. So the Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA, says its going to scrap and rewrite regulations on several PFAS chemicals, arguing that the previous administration failed to properly follow legal procedures.
Now, these have been linked to higher risks of cancer, fertility problems and immune system damage, among other issues. Scientists say that PFAS can last in the environment for many decades. Former Los Angeles police detective Mark Fuhrman has died at the age of 74. He became a central figure in the 1994 O.J. Simpson murder investigation after allegedly finding the bloody glove at Simpson's home. During the trial, he faced intense questioning over allegations of racial bias.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So that anyone who comes to this court and quotes you as using that word in dealing with African Americans would be a liar, would they not, detective?
MARK FUHRMAN, LAPD DETECTIVE: Yes, they would.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of them. Correct?
FUHRMAN: All of them.
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SMITH: Fuhrman was later convicted of lying and retired from the LAPD in 1995.
Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, a doctor convicted of trying to push his wife off a cliff in Hawaii wants a new trial.
And later, an Ohio couple dumpster diving finds themselves trapped in a trash compactor. The bizarre story straight ahead.
Stay with us. You're watching CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS.
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SMITH: All right, take a deep sip of coffee for this one. A moment experts have warned about for years. It could come sooner than anticipated. They call it Q-Day. It's when quantum computers become powerful enough to break encryption that protects nearly everything in our digital world. That includes everything from bank accounts to the passwords on your phone as well.
CNN's Clare Duffy has more.
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CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER: That's right. Experts are warning that Q-Day, this point at which quantum computers could break the encryption that protects much of our information on the internet could be coming sooner than expected, potentially within the next five to 10 years. You can think of this sort of like the next Y2K, the next milestone that experts are concerned about when it comes to cybersecurity. But this Q-Day has the potential to be much more disruptive. And that is because quantum computers are not just better traditional computers. They fundamentally operate differently on the principles of quantum physics. That means that they can process information much more quickly. They
have been in development, but experts now say that development is accelerating perhaps faster than they previously realized. And this is expected to lead to some good things like breakthroughs in science and finance.
[05:25:04]
But it could cause a problem for the Internet's security, which is essentially protected by complex math equations that classical computers would take years and years to break. But quantum computers could break much more quickly. And if we are not prepared for this, this could put at risk our sensitive communications, business information, financial information that is currently protected on the Internet.
Now, the good news is that companies and governments are working to get ready for this milestone. You've got Google and the cybersecurity company Cloudflare that now say they are targeting 2029 to secure their systems, which with what's known as post-quantum cryptography. The White House is recommending that businesses adopt post-quantum cryptography by 2035.
Still, there is data to suggest that 90 percent of businesses are not yet prepared for this. So much more work to do to prepare for this Q- Day milestone.
Back to you.
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SMITH: All right. So nobody freak out about that.
Also, don't freak out about this. But the asteroid that we saw, the size of a bus or two has just safely flown past earth. Check out this picture. The asteroid is that small circle. Yeah, we got the arrow for you.
And it's at its closest, was about a quarter of the distance between earth and the moon. Asteroid 2026JH2 was only discovered last week, and it might seem a bit alarming that it was flying so close to earth, but scientists say it never posed a danger. And thanks to new sensitive asteroid detection surveys, we're able to see how often these close passes occur.
Straight ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, there's this:
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's a lot of hatred going around. I'm not happy with the political climate.
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SMITH: San Diego residents reeling from the deadly shooting outside a mosque that police say involved two teens and is under investigation as a possible hate crime.
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