Three dead in California Denny's shooting

LOS ANGELES - A man opened fire with a pair of handguns at a central California Denny's restaurant today, killing two people and wounding two others before apparently taking his own life, police said.


Police responding to the restaurant in the beach community of Pismo Beach found three people, including the gunman, dead and two other customers suffering from gunshot wounds.


"He came in with two guns, shooting away," Pismo Beach Cmdr. Jeff Norton said. "We don't know if he targeted anyone specifically."


Norton said the shooter's fatal wound appeared to be self-inflicted.


Both of the wounded victims were taken to local hospitals near Pismo Beach, about 240km north of Los Angeles. There was no immediate word on their condition but Norton said that at least one was able to give a statement to police.


Authorities did not immediately release the names of the gunman, who was identified only as a white male, or the victims.


"We are shocked and saddened by this incident that occurred. It appears to be a random act of violence and right now I can't give details of the investigation, it's still in progress. We are cooperating with the Pismo Beach Police Department," said Angelica Jimenez, spokeswoman for Denny's, which is based in Spartanburg, South Carolina.


- REUTERS