SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — There were initial reports of at least 20 victims down amid an active shooter incident at a center for people with developmental disabilities in San Bernardino late Wednesday morning, according to KTLA.
San Bernardino police said that 17 people were killed and 14 people were injured.
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Officials said they do not know if this was a terrorist attack.
The incident was reported in the 1300 block of South Waterman Avenue, San Bernardino Fire tweeted shortly before 11:15 a.m.
Authorities said the situation is unfolding at the Inland Regional Center, a nonprofit that works with individuals with developmental disabilities.
There were possibly one to three shooters, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department tweeted. They were described as wearing ski masks.
Agencies in the area were warned to be on the lookout for up to three men who fled a shooting there in a black, SUV-style vehicle, a local law enforcement official told CNN. The men are believed to be armed with AK-47-type weapons and possibly other automatic weapons. The warning came in a radio call that is being monitored by all law enforcement in the immediate area.
San Bernardino police used a robot to detonate a suspicious device found on the premises, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Marcos Aguilera’s wife was in the building when the gunfire erupted, ABC7 reported. He told ABC7 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 said, adding that his wife saw ambulances taking people out of the building on stretchers.
Four adults have been transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center, and the hospital is expecting three more patients, hospital spokeswoman Briana Pastorino said.
A source who is employed at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in California tells CNN the facility is on lockdown and has received eight victims from the shooting in San Bernardino.
Nearly 670 staff members provide services to 30,200 people with developmental disabilities and their families in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, according to the Inland Regional Center’s Facebook page.
Dave Hall, whose daughter goes to the facility, told KTLA that the center is used by those with mild to severe autism.
“Who would think of such a thing to make an attack at that kind of facility?” Hall said.
San Bernardino is a city of just over 200,000 people located 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
FF unable to wait for ambulances using pickup trucks 2 scoop & evacuate injured. First hand account of rescues coming from Alex Vasquez
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) December 2, 2015
Hearing reports of a possible IED… Bomb technicians have arrived on scene. #SanBernardino
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) December 2, 2015
https://twitter.com/ShepNewsTeam/status/672143144796995584
https://twitter.com/ShepNewsTeam/status/672145175792254976
Our photographer Alex Vasquez on the ground reporting possible fatalities. Working 2 confirm. #SanBernardinoShooting pic.twitter.com/ewbGjSY8wH
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) December 2, 2015
Shootings occurring near a center for developmentally disabled. pic.twitter.com/WDFmcC3YVE
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) December 2, 2015
Dozens of civilians being evacuated right now. Hands up… #PD being very cautious and still searching for suspects. pic.twitter.com/sWN7imzgCX
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) December 2, 2015
People sheltering in place, even in cars. PD trying 2 evacuate as many people as possible. #SanBernardinoShooting pic.twitter.com/PnGllBqHNZ
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) December 2, 2015
https://twitter.com/SBCityFire/status/672131690978906112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Hard Closure at Orange Show Rd/ Waterman and Park Center Circle in San Bernardino. AVOID THE AREA POLICE ACTIVITY!
— San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) December 2, 2015