One person was killed and five others were injured in a shooting at a church in Orange County, California, police said.
“We detained one person and found a weapon that may be involved,” the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) said on Twitter on Sunday.
All the victims were adults and four were “seriously injured” and were rushed to hospital, the OCSO said.
According to police, 911 went to the shooting at the Presbyterian Church in Geneva, left at 13.26.
The shooting took place in the town of Laguna Woods, about 45 miles southeast of Los Angeles, an area with a large population of elderly people.
Orange County Fire Department officials said they had emergency services on the scene and transferred several people to the hospital.
The exact circumstances that led to the shooting remain undisclosed.
The Independent contacted the sheriff’s office for more information.
“My understanding is that it all happened in the church building,” a police spokesman told The New York Times. “We’re trying to figure out what kind of service was going on at the time.”
The shooting took place on block 24000 on El Toro Road.
Photos on social media show three fire engines in front of a church in the area.
The FBI is helping with the reaction to the scene, writes the Los Angeles Times. The same is true of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom also said he was closely following the incident.
“No one should be afraid to go to their place of worship,” the statement said. “Our thoughts are with the victims, the community and everyone affected by this tragic event.”
Cindy Fraser, 65, was on her way to work when she heard the sirens of a number of law enforcement officers heading for the church, initially thinking it was a local fire.
“I thought the fire was burning again, but it was only one after another,” Laguna Woods told the newspaper. “It’s so heartbreaking. Why? Why our community. “
The shooting came just a day after 10 people were killed in a mass shooting by a white man at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday.
“This is disturbing and disturbing news, especially less than a day after the massacre in Buffalo,” US spokeswoman Katie Porter wrote on Sundy’s Twitter account. “It doesn’t have to be our new normal. I will work hard to support the victims and their families. “
Police will address the public at 5:00 p.m. PT.
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