Row ends in carnage

Three shot dead, seven wounded as children flee slaughter

THREE men have been shot dead after a brawl at a popular bowling alley and karaoke bar erupted into gunfire that had children running for their lives.

Police in the coastal city of Torrance, California, responding to calls of shots fired at the Gable House Bowl.

They found seven people with gunshot wounds.

Three men were pronounced dead at the scene and two were taken to a hospital, Sergeant Ronald Harris said. Two other men were struck by gunfire but “opted to seek their own medical attention”.

Authorities have not identified the victims nor suspects or released details about what led to the shooting. But, witnesses said it stemmed from a fight between two large groups.

Dwayne Edwards, 60, of Los Angeles, said he got a call from his nephew that his 28year-old son, Astin Edwards, was one of those killed. His nephew told him his son was attempting to break up a fight when a gunman “just started unloading”.

“I’m thinking this is a dream and I’ll wake up,” Mr Edwards said. “I don’t understand it.”

A grieving mother told local television her 28-year-old son, Robert Meekins, was also trying to help break up the fight. “They were friends, so I know he probably jumped in and helped Astin and whoever he was with … but I don’t think my son deserves to die,” she said.

Anglean Hubbard said. “My son was a loving person. He loved life, he loved his son.”

The third victim was 20year-old Michael Radford, his sister Latrice Dumas said.

Wes Hamad, a 29-year-old Torrance resident, said he was at the bowling alley with his 13year-old niece and cousin when he saw a “huge fight” break out. He said the brawl, which lasted about five minutes, blocked the entrance and spiralled into “complete chaos”. “I grabbed my niece and started running toward the far end of the bowling alley,” he said. “As we were running, we heard 15 shots.”