Shooting near Los Angeles, casualties feared

Last updated on: 05 January,2019 02:56 pm

There were reports of shots fired with multiple victims down, police Torrance Police Department said

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Police in California on Saturday said they were responding to a shooting with "multiple victims" at a bowling alley near Los Angeles.

In a tweet posted shortly after midnight, the Torrance Police Department said there were "reports of shots fired with multiple victims down."

"T P D is on scene. Investigation is ongoing. Please stay away from the area," it added.

The Los Angeles Times reported the shooting took place at Gable House Bowl, a gaming complex.

A witness told the newspaper there had been a "big fight" prior to the shooting.

Torrance, a coastal city, is located around 20 miles (32 kilometers) southeast of downtown Los Angeles in the South Bay region.

According to health authorities, nearly 40,000 people died in the United States as a result of firearms in 2017 -- a figure that includes suicides.