Azusa Election Day Shooting Live Updates: Violence At California Polling Place

UPDATE: 9:45 p.m. EST — A gunman opened fire on a residential street in Azusa, California, Tuesday, killing one person, wounding two others and trading gunfire with police before being found dead, police said.

The shooting forced the lockdown of two polling places and two schools. Voters were urged to find alternative polling stations.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. John Corina said investigators have yet to determine a motive for the shooting, which began about 2 p.m. PST.

The gunman was armed with a military-style rifle and traded shots with responding officers before fleeing to a home in the area and touching off an hours-long standoff. It was unclear whether the gunman was killed by police or committed suicide.

Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Ron Singleton said one of the victims was dead at the scene. Two others were airlifted to a nearby hospital.

UPDATE: 9:35 p.m. EST — KABC, Los Angeles, upped the death toll to two in a shooting in Azusa, California, that forced the lockdown of two polling places and two schools. One of the victims was dead at the scene and the second died at a hospital, KABC said. Two of the victims were transported to hospitals by helicopter.​

UPDATE: 9:15 p.m. EST — The Los Angeles Times tweeted a body had been removed from a home in Azusa, California, but it was unclear whether it was the shooter who killed one and wounded three others.

UPDATE: 9:05 p.m. EST — Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Ron Singleton said a 70-year-old man was dead at the scene.

Police said at least one heavily armed woman was involved. Witnesses, however, told reporters the shooter was a man.

Azusa Police Chief Steve Hunt said the gunman was armed with an assault rifle with “rapid-fire capability,” the Los Angeles Times reported. At least 20 shots were fired at police responding to the scene.

“It’s very early to tell what the motive is, but it appears to be concentrated on the residential side, not at the polling station,” Hunt said.

UPDATE: 8:15 p.m. EST — Azusa, California, Police Chief Steve Hunt said police are searching for at least one female suspect and an additional male suspect.

KTLA, Los Angeles, reported two of those shot were female and one was male. A fourth victim was lodged in a doorway, Hunt said.

Authorities urged voters to head to other polling places and avoid the area.

The Los Angeles Times said at least one of the victims was on the way to vote.

Several streets in the area were blocked by emergency vehicles. Three vehicles were involved in an accident on one of the blocked roads but it was unclear whether the accident was related to the shootings, KTLA said.

UPDATE: 7:25 p.m. EST — Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies have trapped a gunman who opened fire near two polling places Tuesday, killing one person and wounding at least three others. The gunman, armed with a rifle, took refuge in a nearby home when police arrived at the scene, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The immediate area was evacuated.

Roberto Chavez, 67, told the Times he saw the gunman, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, fire at least 10 rounds at a group of people. He said he recognized the man as someone who visits a neighbor’s home frequently.

Original story

Los Angeles Sheriff’s officials said one person was killed and three wounded in a shooting near two polling places Tuesday in Azusa, California, about 25 miles east of Los Angeles.

Sheriff’s Capt. Jeff Scroggin said at least one heavily armed suspect was involved.

“This is a very volatile and critical situation,” he said.

The shooting occurred about 2 p.m. PST in a residential neighborhood, near a middle school that was placed on lockdown. There was no immediate word on whether any police officers were injured, the Los Angeles Times reported.

KNXT, Los Angeles, reported officers were met by gunfire at the scene and were “pinned down.”

The conditions of the injured were not immediately available. KNBC, Los Angeles, reported at least one person was transported to a hospital.

No arrests have been made.

Voters described the confusion and violence. “At first, I thought it was construction but people came running into the room saying they see a guy with a bulletproof vest and a white shirt. As of right now, they just have us in the voting room and are trying to keep us calm,” one witness told CNN.

Elizabeth Hopkinson was dropping off her mail-in ballot when the shooting began. She said she heard, "pow, pows, then a rain of fire."

Voters across the nation were choosing Tuesday between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton. The Senate and House of Representatives were also up for grabs, as Democrats and Republicans battled for control of Congress.

It's unclear what prompted the shooting Tuesday in California or if it was related to Election Day.