15 Nov 2017

Five dead in California shooting - reports

10:01 am on 15 November 2017

At least five people have been killed and several wounded a shooting in California, US media report.

The shootings in Tehama County happened in a number of locations, including Rancho Tehama Elementary School, reports say.

Children are among the injured. Authorities say a number of students were taken to hospital.

In a brief statement on its website, the school district said: "We have had an active shooter incident at Rancho Tehama Elementary this morning. There are confirmed injuries."

Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said one child was shot at a school and another while riding in a pickup truck with a woman who was also wounded, he told media.

Mr Johnston said the violence started with an apparent domestic dispute, according to neighbors, and spread out with the suspect "randomly picking targets".

A man said his roommate was among the victims and that his neighbour was the gunman. Brian Flint told the Record Searchlight that his neighbour, whom he knew only as Kevin, also stole his truck.

He said he and his roommate told authorities that their neighbour was acting "crazy" and threatening them.

Mr Flint said the neighbour had been shooting "hundreds of rounds" from large magazines.

Officials are investigating at least five shooting scenes, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Three children and an adult are being treated at Enloe Medical Center in Chico, officials said. Their conditions were not available.