A friend of the family told the Associated Press that Abdullah was well-known at the mosque and had worked there for more than a decade.
“He wanted to defend the innocent so he decided to become a security guard,” Shaykh Uthman Ibn Farooq, told the news agency.
Sam Hamideh knew Abdullah through the mosque and told the BBC’s US partner CBS that the security guard would be remembered for his kindness.
“It didn’t matter who walked up… any random person could just walk up and, like, [Abdullah] would greet them, make sure they are OK,” Hamideh said.
“Whether they were homeless off the street looking for something, whether it was a child or elderly.”
An online fundraiser for him has raised more than $1.6m (£1.2m).
The other two victims were worshippers at the mosque, said Cair-SD. Kaziha helped maintain its grounds and convenience store. Awad’s wife teaches at the school that is part of the Islamic center.
READ MORE ON THE NEXT PAGE…
