2 dead in shootout near California polling sites

Two persons were killed and two others were injured in a shootout in California on Wednesday, which prompted a lockdown at two polling stations, authorities said.

The shooting took place in early afternoon in the city of Azusa, 40 km east of Los Angeles, Vanessa Lozano, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said.

Officers found "multiple shooting victims" and came under fire, Azusa police chief Steve Hunt said. He added that officers tending to three victims returned the fire, after being shot at and the gunman was later pronounced dead at the scene.

"One male victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead and two female adults were also transported to a local hospital where they are listed in both in critical condition," the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said in a statement.