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Four people were killed in an office building in the California city of Orange
Photo: Jae C. Hong / AP
A shooter who killed four people in California knew his victims, according to police.
After the crime on Wednesday evening (local time) in an office building in the small town of Orange, the investigators identified the alleged perpetrator on Thursday as a 44-year-old man who had a "personal or business relationship" with the dead.
Three adults and a nine-year-old boy were killed and one woman was seriously injured.
According to police spokeswoman Jennifer Amat, the shooter had locked the entrance gate to the office complex with a chain lock.
Officials fired shots through the bars in an attempt to overpower the perpetrator.
The man was taken to hospital injured after the exchange of fire.
At the scene of the crime, the investigators found a gun and a backpack with pepper spray, handcuffs and ammunition.
The building complex housed, among other things, a family therapist, an insurance company and a real estate agent, reported US media.
The White House expressed dismay on Thursday.
Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the California incident was disturbing and another example of "pointless gun violence."
He also underlined the need for stricter gun laws in the US.
After fatal gunfire attacks in the US states of Georgia and Colorado, the political debate about tougher legislation flared up again.
mjm / dpa