Gunman kills his wife, 4 others and himself in California

BAKERSFIELD, California – An armed man ransacked Kern County, California, killing his wife and four other people before committing suicide, the authorities said. Lt. Mark Mark King of the Kern County Sheriff said on Thursday that there was "strong evidence" on a domestic violence mob in Wednesday night's rampage, but said it was still underway of verification.

The victims were shot dead at a nearby trucking company and then at a residence in Bakersfield, about 90 miles north of Los Angeles. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood told reporters that the shootings were not random.

"Obviously, there is a type of situation that has caused a lot of anger to the husband," he said.

He added: "I am rather comfortable to say that there will be a connection between all these players," he added.

The man was introduced to the company with his wife shortly before 5:30 pm. where he confronted another man.

"The suspect, the husband, shot the person who was driving the trucking company and then returned and shot his wife," Youngblood continued.

The gunman then went to a house where he shot dead a man and a woman, the sheriff said. He then took a car that was driving his child. The woman and child escaped and the man headed for a highway where a sheriff's deputy saw him, Youngblood said.

The gunman saw the MP and entered a parking lot. When the MP confronted him under the threat of a weapon, the man was shot in the chest, said the sheriff.

"I think it was very short, about 10 or 15 minutes," said Youngblood about the time since the first shot until the suspect killed himself, reported KBAK-TV, a subsidiary from CBS Bakersfield.

"Six people have lost their lives in a very short time, which is very unusual," Youngblood said.

The identity of the shooter was not made public immediately.

With the exception of the shooter's wife, the officials did not provide any details on how the victims could have been linked.

About 30 people saw the shooting and were interviewed by MPs, Youngblood said.