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3 dead in shooting at California bowling alley

Three dead after bowling alley shooting
Three dead after bowling alley shooting 00:21

Three men were fatally shot late Friday and four injured when a brawl at a popular Los Angeles-area bowling alley and karaoke bar erupted into gunfire that had terrified patrons, some children, running for their lives.

The Torrance Police Department responded shortly after midnight to calls of shots fired at the Gable House Bowl, which offers bowling, laser tag and an arcade. They found seven people with gunshot wounds.

Three men were pronounced dead at the scene and two were taken to a hospital, Sgt. Ronald Harris said. Two other men were struck by gunfire but "opted to seek their own medical attention."

Authorities have not identified the victims or suspects or released details about what led to the shooting. Witnesses said it stemmed from a fight between two large groups.

Shooting At Bowling Alley In Torrance, California Leaves Three Dead
Residents console each other outside the crime scene on Jan. 5, 2019. Marcus Yam-Los Angeles Times via Getty

Wes Hamad, a 29-year-old Torrance resident, was at the bowling alley with his 13-year-old niece and cousin when he saw a "huge fight" break out. Hamad said the brawl, which lasted about five minutes, blocked the entrance and spiraled into "complete chaos."

"I grabbed my niece and started running toward the far end of the bowling alley," he said. "As we were running, we heard 15 shots."

California U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris said her heart breaks for the victims. "We must do more to address gun violence," she tweeted Saturday. "Americans should be able to go to a bowling alley and be safe."

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