San Diego Mosque Shooters’ Manifesto Includes 38 References to Mass Shooters and 11 References to the “Great Replacement” Conspiracy

Researchers from Montclair State University’s Joetta Di Bella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication in the College of Communication and Media (CCOM) and the Department of Justice Studies conducted an initial review of the manifesto posted by the shooters who attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego on May 18, 2026. Findings were consistent with their previously published research on the manifesto of Buffalo supermarket shooter Payton Gendron from 2022.

Notable insights into the San Diego shooters’ manifesto include:

-38 references to mass shooters who also posted manifestos; Payton Gendron and Brenton

-Tarrant were noted as “the biggest catalyst towards my radicalization.”

-The “Great Replacement” conspiracy was mentioned 11 times in the document.

-The San Diego Mosque shooters’ manifesto mimics the form and content of previous extremist attackers’ manifestos; particularly Gendron’s text.

-Content from spaces such as 4chan, 8kun, and fringe extremist sites are integrated, repurposed, and plagiarized throughout the document (consistent with other recent extremist manifestos).

“Our previous research has shown extremist manifestos are derivative documents, with the Gendron manifesto plagiarizing more than 80% of its content,” said Dr. Daniela Peterka-Benton, Professor of Justice Studies at Montclair State University. “Material from extremist sites and platforms can be the pieces that make up such rationales for attacks,” she added.

“The extensive references made to the manifestos of other mass shooters is concerning,” said Dr. Bond Benton, Professor of Strategic Communication at Montclair State University. “Such repetition shows that these documents inspire imitation and are created to place the attacker within a lineage of violent actors they look up to.”

Peterka-Benton and Benton’s published research on radicalization to violence in the online space can be found here. 

Media Contact: Keith Green, greenk@montclair.edu, 973-655-3701

About the College of Communication and Media: The College of Communication and Media (CCOM) offers a range of dynamic programs to a talented and diverse student population of over 2,000. Offering degrees in advertising, animation and visual effects, communication and media studies, film and television, journalism and digital media, social media and public relations, sports communication and an online, asynchronous MA devoted to strategic communication and media, the College prepares the next generation of communication and media practitioners and leaders. Founded in 2012 and housed in world-class, state-of-the-art facilities just 12 miles from New York City, the College is the only program in the country that offers the following opportunities for students: a radio station (WMSC), newspaper (The Montclarion), strategic communications agency (Hawk Communications), sports network (Red Hawk Sports Network) streaming platform (Hawk+), digital newsroom (News Lab) and studio, and a social media listening center (Joetta DiBella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication). The College also has a Student Success team, including dedicated Career Services and Advising professionals who prepare students for the internship and job search process. Student projects and programs have recently received national recognition from PRSSA’s Bateman Competition, an Edward R. Murrow Award, several Marconi Award nominations, and College Television Awards (“Student Emmy” awards) from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The College is also home to the Center for Cooperative Media, which serves the public by working to grow and strengthen local journalism and media. Through $7.1M in grants awarded over the last five years, the Center focuses on collaboration in journalism, media equity, media coaching and training, civic science and research. The Center is also home to the NJ Civic Information Consortium, the largest funder of media and journalism in  New Jersey, granting more than $10M over the last five years to support independent local media, journalism and training initiatives.