News On the Murderous Spree At Disability Centre

As many as three gunmen believed to be wearing military-style gear opened fire Wednesday at a Southern California social services center, killing at least 14 people and wounding more than a dozen others in what authorities described as a targeted mission.

Hours later, officers blocked a dark SUV that appeared to be riddled with bullet holes on a residential street in San Bernardino. Shots were fired, and a suspect was down, police said.

It was unclear if the suspect was one of the gunmen, but police earlier said the attackers may have fled in a dark SUV.

Police shed no light on a motive for the nation's latest mass shooting, which came five days after a gunman opened fire at Planned Parenthood in Colorado, killing three.

"They came prepared to do what they did, as if they were on a mission," Burguan said, noting the attackers carried long guns - which can mean rifles or shotguns.

Witnesses said several people locked themselves in their offices, desperately waiting to be rescued by police, after gunfire erupted at the Inland Regional Center, which serves people with developmental disabilities.

The attack took place in a conference area where the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health was renting space to hold a banquet, said Marybeth Feild, president and CEO of the center. She said the building houses at least 25 employees as well as a library and conference center.

Ten of the wounded were hospitalized in critical condition, and three were in serious condition, San Bernardino Fire Chief Tom Hannemann said. Police cautioned that the number of people killed and wounded were preliminary estimates that could change.

Triage units were set up outside the center, and people were seen being wheeled away on stretchers. Others walked quickly from a building with their hands up. They were searched by police before being reunited with loved ones.

President Barack Obama was briefed on the attack by his homeland security adviser.

He said it was too early to know the shooters' motives, but urged the country to take steps to reduce the frequency of mass shootings. He told CBS that stricter gun laws, including stronger background checks, would make the country safer.

"The one thing we do know is that we have a pattern now of mass shootings in this country that has no parallel anywhere else in the world, and there's some steps we could take, not to eliminate every one of these mass shootings, but to improve the odds that they don't happen as frequently," Obama said.

Marcos Aguilera's wife was in the building when the gunfire erupted. He said a shooter entered the building next to his wife's office and opened fire.

"They locked themselves in her office. They seen bodies on the floor," Aguilera told KABC-TV, adding that his wife was able to get out of the building unharmed.

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People pray on #SanBernardino Golf Course across the street from the scene of the shooting https://t.co/VcZLYBIfwz pic.twitter.com/LY0l0UxiWL

— CNN (@CNN) December 2, 2015

An officer injured in the shoot-out has been taken to hospital. He has gunshot wounds but it is unclear how badly injured he is or how many times he was shot.

A body now appears to be lying next to the SUV the suspects were travelling in.

Armed police are examining the vehicle. Road blocks are still in place and other units are chasing the remaining suspect.

It has been reported that all suspects have either been shot or arrested but cops are still on the hunt for one person.

-NZ Herald