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San Bernardino: two suspects die in police gun battle after mass shooting San Bernardino: two suspects die in police gun battle after mass shooting
(35 minutes later)
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. 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 San Bernardino, 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. According to San Bernardino police chief Jarrod Burguan, one officer was shot and transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers on Wednesday night converged on a house in nearby Redlands amid a search for possible explosives.
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. 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 what was described as “assault-style clothing” – were shot and killed by officers after a chase. According to San Bernardino police Chief Jarrod Burguan, one officer was shot and transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
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. A third person was taken into custody, police said, although it was not clear whether that individual took any part in the attack during a party at the Inland Regional Center, a care facility in the city of San Bernardino, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
Aerial footage showed police approaching a black SUV in armoured vehicles following an exchange of fire. On a day of extraordinary drama, police told how two suspects were killed after a high-speed pursuit of a dark-coloured SUV in a residential suburb. Aerial footage showed police approaching the SUV in armoured vehicles following an exchange of fire. Police said later that two rifles and two handguns were found in the vehicle.
Related: San Bernardino shooting: bomb squad arrives at scene – rolling coverageRelated: San Bernardino shooting: bomb squad arrives at scene – rolling coverage
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”.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 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.” Burguan, the police chief, said: “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 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 Inland Regional Center is 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 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.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.
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.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