Photo: KTLA screencapture
Authorities confirmed that a suspect has been shot in connection with a car chase as officers followed up their investigation into a mass shooting in San Bernardino, CA, Wednesday morning. One officer was wounded in the exchange of gunfire with non-life threatening injuries.
A black sport-utility vehicle was seen fleeing from the office complex where as many as three assailants killed at least 14 and wounded 17 others around 11:00 a.m. Shortly before 3 p.m., police began pursuing a black SUV in the city, though it was not immediately clear whether the car chase was linked to the attack, reports the Los Angeles Times.
TV footage showed dozens of heavily armed police officers approaching the SUV, and officers in tactical gear could be seen stalking through a San Bernardino neighborhood.
A body could be seen lying in the street near the vehicle. Blood was pooling nearby and a weapon was lying just feet away. One suspect is reportedly dead. SWAT is still searching for suspects.
A senior federal official who is monitoring the case said investigators now believe one of the shooters left the party after getting into an argument and returned with one or two armed companions.
Marybeth Feild, the center’s board president and CEO, said the San Bernardino County Public Health Department rented the conference room and they were hosting a banquet where the shooting occurred.
The room, which holds as many as 200 people, was decorated for a holiday party, according to Feild.
The motive for the attack remains unclear.
