Child among four shot dead in California

Four people, including a child, were shot and killed on Wednesday evening at an office building in Southern California, police said.

It is the third such shooting in the United States in weeks, with 18 people killed in two separate gun violence incidents in March.

The shooter, whose motivations were unknown, sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to hospital, police lieutenant Jennifer Amat said, adding that the suspect was in a critical condition.

She said officers were working to determine whether the wound was self-inflicted or a result of an exchange of fire with police.

Police did not release any more information about the victims, but said that a fifth individual — a woman — had been hospitalised and was in a critical condition.

“The situation has been stabilised and there is no threat to the public,” the Orange Police Department said.

The incident began at 5.30pm on the upper floor of a small office building in the city here.

The block houses businesses, including a counselling service, an insurance company, a financial consulting firm and a phone repair shop, local media reported.

Police and the suspect exchanged fire, according to the Los Angeles Times.

One man, who asked not to be identified speaking to local TV channel KTLA5, described the situation as “terrifying”.

“I can tell you that we haven’t had an incident like this in the city of Orange since 1997,” Amat said, referring to a mass shooting event that saw four people shot dead.

She added: “It’s just such a tragedy for the victims, their families, our community and our police department.”

California governor Gavin Newsom posted on Twitter: “Horrifying and heartbreaking. Our hearts are with the families impacted by this terrible tragedy tonight.”