At least 14 people were murdered and as many as 20 could be injured in a mass shooting at a social services center in San Bernardino, California, on Wednesday.
Police have confirmed there were fatalities in the shooting, but have yet to confirm the exact number. County officials said “at least 10 people total” were injured and are being treated at area hospitals.
San Bernadino is a city of roughly 200,000 people located 60 miles (95 km) outside of Los Angeles.
Witnesses said the shooting place in a conference room that holds up to 300 people.
There may be as many as three suspects, all of whom are using rifles, firing from within the Inland Regional Center.
San Bernardino county chief Jarrod Burguan said at a press conference shortly before 2:00 p.m. (California time) that officers responded quickly and had a “massive” regional response as the scope of the shooting became clear.
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“What we have so far is information to the effect that up to three people had entered the building and opened fire on the people in the building. We have preliminary numbers of upwards of 14 people that are dead and up to 14 people that are injured,” he said.
“We do not have any identification of who these suspects are,” stressed Burguan, saying that officers continue to search the area in search of victims and suspects.
Police are currently describing the gunmen as “three males of unknown race.” At least one is wearing “tactical gear”; that shooter reportedly entered a conference room and began shooting everyone in sight. One eyewitness told the Telegraph that she heard “twenty or thirty rounds” fired shortly after the attack began; she works a school for the blind across the street.
Police have embarked on a manhunt for the shooters, whom eyewitnesses told CNN left the site in a black SUV.
Bomb squads are at the scene examining a suspicious object, as well, it has now been confirmed, which was left on the second floor of the building.
Police were taking witnesses away from the scene on school buses to an undisclosed “secure” location in order to interview them about the shooting, according to the Guardian.
Photos are emerging on social media of heavy police presence at the scene. Dozens of officers have formed a perimeter around the area; police have asked local news stations to avoid broadcasting live. The FBI is also reportedly at the site.
Triage units are being set up to treat the victims.
It is unclear how many people were in the building when the shooting began; live footage shows hundreds being evacuated with hands in the air.
Homeland Security Advisor Lisa Monaco has now briefed US President Barack Obama on the shooting.
Obama, for his part, reiterated that there are too many shooting incidents in the United States. The comments came in an interview with CBS News filmed shortly after the California shooting.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry has indicated it is not aware of any Israeli victims in the shooting.
The center primarily caters to over 30,000 people with developmental disabilities, and has 670 staff members, according to its Facebook page. Footage has emerged of the center’s holiday party, which was held less than 24 hours ago.