Five dead after gun rampage near Obama

 

By PETE SAMSON, US Editor 

AT least five people were killed and five more injured in a shooting rampage close to US President Barack Obama.

A black-clad man with an assault rifle is believed to have shot dead his dad and another person in a house.
He then set it ablaze and roamed through Santa Monica, California, opening fire at random targets, killing some.
The mayhem erupted just three miles from where President Barack Obama was speaking at a fundraising event.

Carnage ... blood at shooting scene

Police have put the death toll at five including the gunman.
Local chief Jacqueline Seabrooks said: “The police department received a call of shots fired in the eastern end of Santa Monica. Responding officers encountered a structural fire.
“We received info at the same time of a possible car jacking that may have been related. We received incoming calls of a series of random shootings with an automatic firearm.

Random targets ... bullet hole in window

“In the area of Santa Monica College the suspect shot at a passenger vehicle and a police vehicle.
“The suspect attempted to evade officers by running onto the college campus. Additional shots were exchanged as the suspect headed towards the library, accosted a number of patrons and attempted to shoot at them.
“Those individuals were able to find a safe location inside the library but the suspect continued to shoot at them. The officers came in and directly engaged the suspect and he was shot and killed on the scene.”

Response ... gunman was later shot dead

 

The man, dressed in combat gear, killed two people in the street.
He stole a vehicle and fired at cars and at a bus then went to a college campus, where he killed another. He took students hostage in a library before cops shot him dead.
There were reports of a second shooter and another man was in custody last night.