Three people were killed and four others injured in a shooting at a bowling alley in California shortly after midnight on Saturday.

The Torrance Police Department said it had responded to “reports of shots fired with multiple victims down” at Gable House Bowl, around 25 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.

Officers announced more than two hours later that at least three men had died at the scene, while four other male victims had been injured.

Two of the injured men were taken to a local hospital to receive treatment for unknown injuries, while two more sought out their own medical attention.

Authorities have not yet identified the victims or suspects, or released details about what led to the shooting, but witnesses said it had been sparked by a mass brawl.

Gable House Bowl in Torrance (Reuters)

Wes Hamad, a 29-year-old Torrance resident who was at the bowling alley with his 13-year-old niece and cousin, said he saw a “huge fight” break out prior to the shooting. Mr Hamad said the brawl developed into “complete chaos” in the space of around five minutes, blocking the entrance of Gable House Bowl.

He said: “I grabbed my niece and started running toward the far end of the bowling alley. As we were running, we heard 15 shots.”

Dwayne Edwards, 60, of Los Angeles, said he received a call from his nephew that his 28-year-old son Astin Edwards was one of those killed. His nephew told him his son was attempting to break up a fight when a gunman “just started unloading”.

Mr Edwards said: “I’m thinking this is a dream and I’ll wake up. He was a good kid. I don’t understand it.”

Investigators said they are working to establish whether shots were fired by a single gunman or a group.

This is how the incident unfolded.