Seven people dead after drive-by shooting in California

At least seven people including the suspect died after a lone gunman sprayed gunfire from a car in a drive-by shooting near a college campus in the Californian city of Santa Barbara, authorities said today.

Seven more people were wounded in what the Santa Barbara County Sheriff described as a premeditated atrocity late yesterday in the town of Isla Vista near the campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara.

"This incident appears to be a mass murder situation," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told a televised news conference. "We currently have seven people confirmed dead - that includes the suspect and six victims."

Witnesses reported seeing a black BMW speeding through the streets and spraying bullets at people and other targets in Isla Vista, California's KEYT-TV reported.

The sheriff said the gunman twice exchanged fire with deputies before his vehicle crashed. The suspect was found dead in the car from a gunshot wound to the head, and authorities recovered a semi-automatic handgun, he said.

“We have obtained and are currently analysing both written and videotaped evidence that suggests this atrocity was a premeditated mass murder,” Mr Brown said.

He could not immediately say whether the suspected gunman was killed by deputies in the exchange of fire or died of a self-inflicted wound.

Reuters