Los Angeles: Four people were killed including a nine year old child in a mass firing by gunmen on Thursday. According to the police sources the gunman knew the four Californians knew personally and targeted his victims in a premeditated attack.

The incident took in a small office building in the city of Orange, south of Los Angeles; Wednesday evening followed two mass shootings earlier in March that once again reignited the debate on gun control in the United States, said police. Police lieutenant Jennifer Amat at a press conference said “This was not a random act of violence”. She also said  “The preliminary motive is believed to be related to a business and personal relationship, which existed between the suspect and all of the victims, and it appears all of the adults were connected either by business or a personal relationship”.

The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Aminadab Gaxiola Gonzalez, had closed access gates to the building with bicycle locks which delayed police entering the site. Police opened fire on the gunman through the gates, seriously wounding him, and the suspect remains in hospital.