Gunman found dead after shooting that locked down Southern Calif. polling places
A gunman who opened fire in Azusa, Calif., was found dead in a nearby home Thursday night after the shooting forced two polling places in the area to go on lockdown.
The shooter killed one person and wounded at least two others, police said.
Critical Incident: Please stay out of the area of Fourth St & Orange Ave. All residents in the area shelter in place.
— Azusa Police (@AzusaPD) November 8, 2016
Officials locked down the two polling places, Dalton Elementary School and Memorial Park, in the moments after the shots rang out. It was unclear whether the shooting had anything to do with the election.
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One adult victim was dead on arrival at a nearby hospital and two were airlifted in critical condition, police said.
Azusa and Irwindale police officers exchanged fire with the suspect who darted into the house, Azusa Police Chief Steve Hunt told reporters. Investigators initially said the gunman was a woman before announcing later in the day that it was a man.
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Officers had urged people in the area to shelter in place. “This is a very volatile and critical situation,” Azusa Police Officer Jerry Willison told the Los Angeles Times.
“Voters should avoid the area and, if necessary, cast a ballot at an alternate polling location,” L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan said.
Willison said none of the officers involved in the shooting was hurt. He said they had to seek cover.
The shooting unfolded just outside Slauson Middle School and near Mountain View Elementary School, which officials locked down for part of the afternoon as well, Fox 11 reported.
Azusa is roughly 20 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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