VOA’s Steve Herman contributed to this report from the White House. 

One person was killed and three others were wounded Saturday when a gunman entered a synagogue in Poway, Calif., and opened fire. 

 

At a news conference, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said a white male entered the synagogue shortly before 11:30 a.m. PDT and opened fire with “an AR-type assault weapon.” He said four people were hit by gunfire in the attack.  

“Sadly, one of the individuals succumbed to their wounds,” Gore said.  He added that the other three victims were in stable condition. 

 

Gore said the suspect was fired on by an off-duty Border Patrol agent who saw the man fleeing the scene, but the suspect was not hit. 

 

San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit said the suspect apparently contacted police and later surrendered to a San Diego police officer who was en route to the scene of the shooting. 

 

He said the suspect was 19 and lives in San Diego.  

Nisleit tweeted earlier that his department was assisting in the investigation, and that while there were no known threats, “in an abundance of caution, we will be providing extra patrol at places of worship.” 

 

Saturday was the final day of the Jewish Passover holiday. 

 

Poway is about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) north of San Diego. 

 

President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters on the south lawn of the White House, said, “My deepest sympathies go to the families who were affected.” 

 

He added that the attack “looks like a hate crime.” 
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