4 killed in S. California shooting

A shooting occurred Wednesday evening in the city of Orange, 55 km southeast of downtown Los Angeles, leaving at least four people dead and two others injured, reported Xinhua, quoting a local NBC news affiliate.

The Orange Police Department was quoted as saying that they responded to reports of a shooting around 5:30 p.m. local time (0030 GMT) and then found "multiple victims at the scene including fatalities" where shots were being fired.

"The situation has been stabilized and there is no threat to the public. More details to follow," the twitter read.

Four people were pronounced dead at the scene and two others were transported to nearby hospitals, according to the Metro City Fire Authority Dispatch, an emergency organization providing fire and emergency medical services to over 1.2 million residents in Southern California, including the city of Orange.

Video clips posted by a local ABC 7 news channel online showed the fatal incident occurred around a business complex, where at least two bodies lay down outside the building, one on a second floor walkway and the other in a courtyard.

At the scene there were also bloody clothes and what appeared to be a weapon as officers investigated.

A young woman told ABC 7 that she heard two distinct sets of shots, one apparently the initial shooting and the other the gunfire exchange between the suspect and police.

"I was just in my room hanging out. All of a sudden I heard five to seven gun shots go off," the witness said. "And then I waited a couple minutes and the police came. And I heard a few more gunshots go off. It was a lot, quickly. Then the helicopter showed up and it was silent after that."

Orange police said it was the city's deadliest shooting since 1997.

Police gave no more details about the incident and shooter, who was in custody and transported to a hospital with unknown conditions. Local politicians were shocked by the tragedy.

"I'm deeply saddened by reports of a mass shooting in Orange County, and I'm continuing to keep victims and their loved ones in my thoughts as we continue to learn more. My team and I will continue to monitor the situation closely," Katie Porter, U.S. Representative for California's 45th congressional district where Orange is located, tweeted Wednesday evening.

"Horrifying and heartbreaking. Our hearts are with the families impacted by this terrible tragedy tonight," California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted.

Wednesday's killings were the latest in a string of mass shootings nationwide in the last two weeks.

On March 22, 10 people, including one police officer, were killed in a mass shooting at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado. On March 16, a series of mass shootings occurred at three spas and massage parlors in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia, which killed eight people including six Asian women.