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San Bernardino police confront suspects after 14 killed in mass shooting San Bernardino: two suspects die in police gun battle after mass shooting
(34 minutes later)
Two suspects have been confirmed dead following a police gun battle with the perpetrators of a mass shooting that left at least 14 people dead and 17 wounded in California. Two suspects have been confirmed killed in a police gun battle after a mass shooting that left at least 14 people dead and 17 wounded in California.
Following the deadliest shooting on US soil since the Sandy Hook school massacre in 2012, two suspects - one male and one female, both carrying assault rifles and wearing “assault-style clothing” - were shot and killed by officers after a hunt for the perpetrators. According to San Bernardino police chief Jarrod Burguan, one officer who was shot at the scene and transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Following the deadliest shooting on US soil since the Sandy Hook school massacre in 2012, two suspects – one male and one female, both carrying assault rifles and wearing “assault-style clothing” – were shot and killed by officers. According to San Bernardino police chief Jarrod Burguan, one officer was shot and transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A third suspect has been taken into custody, although it is not clear whether he took any part in the earlier attack on a party at a care center in the city of San Bernardino, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles. A third person was taken into custody, although it was not clear whether that person took any part in the attack during a party at a care center in the city of San Bernardino, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
On a day of extraordinary drama, police revealed that the two suspects gad been killed after a high-speed chase in a residential suburb. Earlier the suspects had escaped in a dark-colored SUV leaving behind a scene of devastation at a center for developmentally disabled people. On a day of extraordinary drama, police told how two suspects were killed after a high-speed chase in a residential suburb. They had fled in a dark-colored SUV from the scene of devastation at a center for developmentally disabled people.
Aerial footage showed police approaching a black SUV following an exchange of fire in armoured vehicles. One of those suspects was shot when officers found that car, Cervantes said. Another was reportedly taken into custody. A third may still be at large. Aerial footage showed police approaching a black SUV in armoured vehicles following an exchange of fire.
Related: San Bernardino shooting: bomb squad arrives at scene – rolling coverageRelated: San Bernardino shooting: bomb squad arrives at scene – rolling coverage
The victims were killed by gunmen who entered the building at around 11am local time, carrying what police described as “long guns, not handguns”. The care center victims were killed by gunmen who entered the building at around 11am local time carrying what police described as “long guns, not handguns”.
David Bowdich, the assistant director in charge of the LA field office of the FBI, said he could still not rule out that this was a terrorist attack. “I know one of the questions that will come up is ‘is this terrorism’, and we don’t know that for sure. It is a possibility, but we don’t know that yet, and we’re not willing to go down that road yet.” David Bowdich, the assistant director in charge of the LA field office of the FBI, said he could still not rule out that this was a terrorist attack. “I know one of the questions that will come up is ‘is this terrorism’, and we don’t know that for sure. It is a possibility but we don’t know that yet and we’re not willing to go down that road yet.”
Police chief Burguan admitted: “We do not have a motive.” At an earlier briefing for the media, he said the gunmen had entered the center “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.” Police chief Burguan admitted: “We do not have a motive.” At an earlier briefing for the media, he said the shooters had entered the center “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. Alex Vasquez, an NBC4 cameraman who was driving nearby when 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.”“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.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 public health department 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.
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.
Cervantes told a reporter on ABC7 earlier in the day that “multiple shooters came in and just started shooting”.Cervantes told a reporter on ABC7 earlier in the day 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 peopleRelated: 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. Further unconfirmed witness reports described three gunmen, wearing ski masks and camouflage, carrying rifles.Police warned residents to avoid the area near Orange Show Road and Waterman Avenue, an area of the city near a golf course. 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, a site that records 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.This is the 342nd mass shooting in the US so far this year, according to Shootingtracker.com, a site that records 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.
As news spread of the latest mass shooting in the United States, 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.
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. #SanBernardinoOh god. Not again. #SanBernardino
Additional reporting by Paul Lewis in San FranciscoAdditional reporting by Paul Lewis in San Francisco