AUTHORITIES in California say a gunman who killed a man and critically wounded two women not far from two polling places is now dead.

The shooting place in a residential area in Azusa, California, which is about 45km from Los Angeles.

Police said the incident was not election-related.

The two polling sites were shut down for several hours Tuesday while officers surrounded a home where the gunman’s body was found. One later reopened. Authorities called to the scene got into a gunbattle and police say it’s unclear whether they fatally wounded the gunman or he killed himself. No officers were hurt.

The shooting took place not far from several schools, including one that was serving as a polling place, and across the street from a park that also had a polling site.

Police don’t have a specific motive for the shootings.

The names of the gunman and the dead man haven’t been released. The wounded victims are described as two women in their mid-50s.

One witness told CNN he heard a “massive shooting is happening and the police have told us to stay indoors. We are currently on locked down.”

A female voter told CNN she heard the shots ring out.

Manhunt underway after multiple people hurt in Azusa, California, shooting https://t.co/kvjJmJ6rwf via @NBCLA — NBC News (@NBCNews) November 8, 2016

“At first, I thought it was construction but people came running into the room saying they see a guy with a bulletproof vest and a white shirt. As of right now, they just have us in the voting room and are trying to keep us calm,” she said.

Officers arrived at the scene to find a man with a rifle. The gunman immediately fired at least 20 shots at police, a source told the Los Angeles Times.

Officers took cover from the hail of gunfire and returned shots at the man, who retreated into a house, said the source, who requested anonymity because the case was ongoing. No officers were hurt when he opened fire at them.

Police have the house surrounded and have been evacuating the area, the source said. It is understood the gunman has barricaded himself inside a home.

Two polling stations in the area — Memorial Park North Recreation Centre and Dalton Elementary School — were impacted by the shooting, LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan tweeted.