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Shooting Outside California Church

by jordan | May 17, 2008 at 05:58 pm | 163 views | add comment

A man brought a rifle to a church carnival earlier today, opening fire and wounding three people. The gunman was tackled by witnesses as he stopped to reload, and was taken into custody.

The intended victim was the gunman's 30-year-old ex-girlfriend, according to CNN affiliate KTLA. She was struck in the shoulder and is in stable condition at a local hospital, KTLA reported.

The suspect is the father of a student who goes to the church school, according to KTLA.

A second victim was in stable condition and a third was in critical condition, Los Angeles police spokeswoman Norma Eisenman said.

The man in critical condition was shot in the chest. He is 45. Another man, 47, was struck in the leg and is in stable condition, reported KTLA.

The Rev. Robert Milbauer, the parish's pastor, told The Associated Press that about 50 people, mainly church volunteers and their children, were setting up food and game booths and carnival-style rides when the gunfire erupted.

The festival was canceled as those wounded were brought to the hospital.