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San Bernardino police say at least 14 people dead in mass shooting | San Bernardino police say at least 14 people dead in mass shooting |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 14 people are dead and “upwards of 14” more are wounded after a shooting at a care center in California for people with developmental disabilities. | |
Police are searching for three suspects who fled the scene in a dark-colored SUV after the shooting which took place in the city of San Bernardino, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, at about 11am local time on Wednesday. | |
Related: San Bernardino shooting: bomb squad arrives at scene – rolling coverage | Related: San Bernardino shooting: bomb squad arrives at scene – rolling coverage |
In the deadliest shooting on US soil since the Sandy Hook school massacre in 2012, victims were killed by gunmen who entered the building carrying what police described as “long guns, not handguns”. | In the deadliest shooting on US soil since the Sandy Hook school massacre in 2012, victims were killed by gunmen who entered the building carrying what police described as “long guns, not handguns”. |
In a press conference, San Bernardino police chief Jarrod Burguan said the incident involved up to three gunmen. Asked directly whether he was dealing with an incident of terrorism, he said: “We do not know.” | In a press conference, San Bernardino police chief Jarrod Burguan said the incident involved up to three gunmen. Asked directly whether he was dealing with an incident of terrorism, he said: “We do not know.” |
Addressing a roadside press conference, he said the gunmen entered “as if on a mission”, adding: “They came in with a purpose … We have no information to indicate that this is terrorism in the traditional sense, obviously at a minimum we have a domestic terrorism situation.” | Addressing a roadside press conference, he said the gunmen entered “as if on a mission”, adding: “They came in with a purpose … We have no information to indicate that this is terrorism in the traditional sense, obviously at a minimum we have a domestic terrorism situation.” |
Alex Vasquez, an NBC4 cameraman who was driving nearby when he a call from his news desk redirected him to the scene, said he arrived as shooting still resounded through the building. “They were the last shots fired,” he said, speaking hours later a mile from the scene. | |
“People were running,” Vasquez continued. “People had been shot in the back, arms, chest. I saw a woman who was badly injured. She was on the ground, struggling. I saw her take her last breath.” Vasquez shook his head. “These were people who got up in the morning and went to work and ended up in their worst nightmare.” | |
The attack took place at the Inland Regional Center, a care facility that works with developmentally disabled people. The building was evacuated; people were taken across the street to a golf course, where some were reportedly being treated for injuries. | The attack took place at the Inland Regional Center, a care facility that works with developmentally disabled people. The building was evacuated; people were taken across the street to a golf course, where some were reportedly being treated for injuries. |
Most of the victims were in the same area of the building, police said. | |
Marybeth Field, a member of the board of trustees at Inland Regional Services, said on a given day the facility has 500 employees on-site. | Marybeth Field, a member of the board of trustees at Inland Regional Services, said on a given day the facility has 500 employees on-site. |
On Wednesday, Field told the Guardian, a conference center had been rented out by the San Bernardino County department of public health for a Christmas party. Field said she had a meeting at the center on Wednesday morning but hadn’t yet arrived when the shooting began. | On Wednesday, Field told the Guardian, a conference center had been rented out by the San Bernardino County department of public health for a Christmas party. Field said she had a meeting at the center on Wednesday morning but hadn’t yet arrived when the shooting began. |
As details of the latest mass shooting to hit the United States emerged, Barack Obama condemned the incident in an interview with ABC News shortly after the news broke. “We have a pattern now of mass shootings in this country that has no parallel anywhere in the world,” he said. Congress could do more to “improve the odds that they don’t happen as frequently”, he said. | As details of the latest mass shooting to hit the United States emerged, Barack Obama condemned the incident in an interview with ABC News shortly after the news broke. “We have a pattern now of mass shootings in this country that has no parallel anywhere in the world,” he said. Congress could do more to “improve the odds that they don’t happen as frequently”, he said. |
Earlier, an official at the San Bernardino County sheriff’s department confirmed to the Guardian that law enforcement was acting on intelligence that three suspects were seen fleeing the scene in an SUV. | |
One local man told ABC7 that he had received a text from his daughter saying: “Shooting at my workplace. People shot. In the office waiting for cops. Pray for us.” She said she was “locked in an office.” | One local man told ABC7 that he had received a text from his daughter saying: “Shooting at my workplace. People shot. In the office waiting for cops. Pray for us.” She said she was “locked in an office.” |
There were reports of Swat team officers in the social services building and aerial photographs of people leaving the building with their hands in the air. Soon afterwards, all courts, government buildings and schools in the county were put on lockdown. | There were reports of Swat team officers in the social services building and aerial photographs of people leaving the building with their hands in the air. Soon afterwards, all courts, government buildings and schools in the county were put on lockdown. |
Sergeant Vicki Cervates of the San Bernardino Police told a reporter on ABC7 that “multiple shooters came in and just started shooting”. | |
Nancy Lungren, assistant director of communications for the California department of developmental services, said the Inland Regional Center is one of 21 facilities in the state that help coordinate services and support people with developmental disabilities including autism and cerebral palsy. | Nancy Lungren, assistant director of communications for the California department of developmental services, said the Inland Regional Center is one of 21 facilities in the state that help coordinate services and support people with developmental disabilities including autism and cerebral palsy. |
“And it can make all the difference,” Lungren said. “They try to keep them in a community, living at home or living in an apartment.” | “And it can make all the difference,” Lungren said. “They try to keep them in a community, living at home or living in an apartment.” |
Related: Inland Regional Center: shooting target is community for disabled people | Related: Inland Regional Center: shooting target is community for disabled people |
Police warned residents to avoid the area near Orange Show Road and Waterman Avenue, an area of the city near a golf course. Units were working to clear the scene and emergency personnel have arrived, according to the sheriff’s department. Further unconfirmed witness reports described three gunmen, wearing ski masks and camouflage, carrying rifles. | |
The attack is the latest in a litany of mass shooting events in the United States. | The attack is the latest in a litany of mass shooting events in the United States. |
This is the 342nd mass shooting in the US so far this year, according to Shootingtracker.com, who record all incidents with four or more victims (including the shooter). Together, those shootings left at least 447 individuals confirmed as dead and 1,292 injured. | |
On Friday, three were killed and nine injured in an attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado. | On Friday, three were killed and nine injured in an attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado. |
Chris Murphy, the Connecticut senator who had just been elected when the 26 people were shot dead at Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012, leading him into a campaign for gun control, summed up the feelings of many on social media: | Chris Murphy, the Connecticut senator who had just been elected when the 26 people were shot dead at Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012, leading him into a campaign for gun control, summed up the feelings of many on social media: |
Oh god. Not again. #SanBernardino | Oh god. Not again. #SanBernardino |
Additional reporting by Paul Lewis in San Francisco |