Five dead as gunman opens fire at school

SHOOTING SPREE ACROSS US STATE

A SERIES of shootings in rural northern California have left five people dead – including the gunman, authorities say.

Two children were among the wounded, it was confirmed.

Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said one child was shot at a school, and another was shot while riding in a pick-up truck with a woman who was also wounded.

Mr Johnston says the gunman was “randomly picking targets”.

He said there were seven shooting scenes in and around the school in Rancho Tehama Reserve, about 130 miles north of Sacramento and that there may be more victims. Investigators have recovered a semi-automatic rifle and two handguns. Jeanine Quist, an administrative assistant with the Corning Union Elementary School District, says no-one was killed at the school, but a “number” of students were shot and wounded.

Brian Flint said that his roommate was among the victims and that his neighbour was the gunman.

He told the Record Searchlight newspaper in the city of Redding that his neighbour, whom he knew only as Kevin, also stole his lorry.

He said he and his room-mate told authorities that their neighbour was acting “crazy” and threatening them.

Mr Flint said he had been shooting “hundreds of rounds” from large magazines.