Tree trimmer injured in deadly mosque shooting explains why he’s the ‘luckiest guy’
Tafu Letuli, a tree trimmer injured in a recent shooting near the Islamic Center of San Diego, expressed feelings of being the 'luckiest guy on the planet' despite his traumatic experience. He was shot at multiple times, with one bullet striking his helmet, resulting in minor injuries. Letuli's statement reflects a mix of gratitude for his survival and sorrow for the victims of the shooting, which is being investigated as a hate crime.
- ▪Tafu Letuli was shot at 5 or 6 times while working near the Islamic Center of San Diego.
- ▪He suffered minor injuries from bullet fragments that shattered his helmet.
- ▪The shooting resulted in the deaths of three individuals at the mosque, carried out by two teens who later took their own lives.
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U.S. newsTree trimmer injured in deadly mosque shooting explains why he’s the ‘luckiest guy’ Tafu Letuli, 52, said he was inches away from meeting a horrible end to his life, in his first statement after the incident. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Police respond following news of an active shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, Calif., on May 18.Zoë Meyers / AFP via Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 26, 2026, 4:37 PM EDTBy Nicole AcevedoA landscaper shot near the San Diego mosque where two teens carried out a deadly shooting last week said he’s the “luckiest guy in the planet,” in his first statement which was issued by his attorney over the weekend.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Tafu…
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