Shooting rampage in California leaves 14 dead, 17 wounded

By Tim Reid and Dan Whitcomb
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Reuters) - Gunmen opened fire on a holiday
party on Wednesday at a social services agency in San Bernardino,
California, killing 14 people and wounding 17 others before fleeing,
authorities said.
As an intense manhunt for up to three suspects ensued, San
Bernardino police reported one "suspect down" in an exchange of
gunfire with officers but did not immediately confirm whether the
individual was connected to the shooting.
The shooting rampage at the Inland Regional Center about 60 miles
(100 km) east of Los Angeles marked the deadliest U.S. gun violence
since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown,
Connecticut, in December 2012, in which 27 people, including the
gunman, were killed.
San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said in a televised news
briefing three hours after Wednesday's shooting that the suspects
were believed to have made their getaway in a dark-colored sport
utility vehicle.
A vehicle matching that description turned up at the shootout with
police several hours later, city police spokeswoman Sergeant Vicki
Cervantes. She said the number of wounded rose to 17.
With suspects at large, authorities ordered a security "lockdown" of all
local schools, as well as city and county buildings, and area hospitals
were placed on alert, Burguan said.
Burguan said he knew of no possible motive behind the attack, which
unfolded at about 11 a.m.