SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Dec. 2 (UPI) — More than a dozen people were shot dead Wednesday and several others were wounded after gunmen opened fire inside a developmental services facility east of the Los Angeles area, authorities said.
The shooting occurred about 11 a.m. local time at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino — about 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said at a news conference that as many as three gunmen entered the facility and began shooting people inside before fleeing in a dark-colored SUV. More than a dozen people were killed.
“Upwards of 14 people that are dead and upwards of 14 people who are wounded,” Burguan said, also noting that hundreds of people inside the facility escaped unharmed.
An FBI representative said at the news conference that investigators are still unsure whether the shootings are terror-related.
One report said the suspect or suspects were heavily armed and wore tactical body armor, although San Bernardino police did not immediately confirm that detail. Burguan noted that the weapons used in the shooting are “long guns,” not handguns.
One source told CNN that the shooting occurred in a conference center at the facility, and that three gunmen armed with AK-47-type weapons were involved in the shootings.
The bomb squad also attended to a suspicious package on the second floor of the building, CNN’s report said. In wasn’t immediately clear if explosives were found.
Authorities have urged residents to stay away from the scene as they attend to wounded and search for suspects. Several schools nearby were placed on lockdown.
SWAT team members are combing the area searching for perpetrators. Multiple agencies — including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the California Highway Patrol — are assisting local authorities in the case, officials said.
Law enforcement officials were also interviewing everyone in the immediate vicinity of the scene and preventing them from leaving the perimeter, in the event a suspect is among them.
The San Bernardino Board of Supervisors has convened an emergency meeting to settle on a course of action to handle the mass shooting, NBC Los Angeles reported.
The Inland Regional Center, a private nonprofit facility, aids persons with developmental disabilities in San Bernardino and nearby Riverside County.
“This is wrong. Why would they target an agency that deals with helping handicapped people?” asked one man who has a relative who is employed at the complex.
“My prayers are with the victims, families and survivors of this horrific attack,” Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), San Bernardino’s federal representative, said. “My heart aches that the out-of-control gun violence epidemic has come to our community.”
Other politicians also responded to the shootings with shock and sadness — and in some cases, frustration.
“What more evidence do you need that we need to step it up as it relates to gun safety in this state?” Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “It is just unacceptable what is going on in this country. And California needs to lead the way.”
President Barack Obama, who has repeatedly advocated stricter gun laws, was briefed on the shooting Wednesday afternoon — as was Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton.
“I refuse to accept this as normal. We must take action to stop gun violence now,” Clinton tweeted.
“Enough is enough,” Democratic candidate Martin O’Malley tweeted. “It’s time to stand up to the NRA and enact meaningful gun safety laws.”
“California shooting looks very bad,” GOP candidate Donald Trump tweeted. “Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!”
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