One male and one female suspect were dead Wednesday and a third suspect detained after a rampage in San Bernadino, California left 14 people dead and 17 injured.
A potential explosive device was found at the scene of the mass shooting at Inland Regional Center, San Bernadino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said in a news conference Wednesday evening.
After the shooting rampage, police were staking out a home in nearby Redlands, California, when they saw a vehicle leaving the property and began following it, Burguan said. Officers followed the vehicle, which returned to San Bernadino, and ultimately engaged in a shootout with its occupants, according to Burguan.
The shootout happened some four hours after the initial shooting.
The suspects died at the shootout scene with police officers. They were wearing what Burguan described as “assault style clothing” and each was armed with assault rifles and handguns, Burguan said.
Burguan said police were cautious when approaching the suspects’ vehicle in case of explosive devices.
Burguan acknowledged reports that a person left the holiday party that was taking place at the facility at the time of the shooting, but could not confirm if that person was one of the suspects.
David Bowdich, the FBI agent in charge of the investigation, said terrorism was a possibility and had shifted the investigation to reflect that, but was not yet ready to call it a terrorist attack.
Burguan said a third suspect was detained but did not know of his or her involvement in the incident “if any.”
This post has been updated.
