A police tape blocks the access to the crime scene after a shooting in Fresno, California, USA, 17 November 2019. Photo: IC

 
A shooting incident on Wednesday afternoon in Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard left three dead, including the gunman, and one injured.

The gunman, who killed himself, was a sailor assigned to the U.S.S. Columbia, a submarine docked at the shipyard for maintenance, and it was not immediately clear whether the killer knew the victims, all shipyard employees, said Robert Chadwick, commander of Navy Region Hawaii, at a news conference.

He did not provide further details about the type of gun used or the motive of the shooting.

A witness told local Hawaii News Now website that he was at his desk when he heard loud pops, and then saw three people lying on the ground and the shooter in navy uniform shoot himself.

"I kind of recognize that as gunshots," the witness said. "I looked out of the window, and saw three people on the ground. I looked out in time to see the shooter ... shoot himself."

Due to the fatal incident, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH), which combines two bases of Pearl Harbor Naval Station and Hickam Air Force Base, was temporarily closed for about two hours. The lockdown was lifted at around 4 p.m. (0200 GMT Thursday).