Three dead in California shootings, police search for gunman

Police officers in Nevada City, California, respond to the scene where at least three people were killed Wednesday in two separate shooting incidents

NEVADA CITY, California (CNN) -- Three people were killed and two seriously wounded Wednesday after a man opened fire at a county services building -- concentrating on the Mental Health Department -- and a local restaurant, officials said.

Law enforcement officials launched a manhunt for the suspect and were investigating whether the man had been a patient at the department, according to authorities.

Local schools were locked down as officials searched for the man, and nearby businesses were evacuated.

Nevada City, with about 2,900 residents, is roughly 45 miles northeast of Sacramento.

The sheriff's office got the first call that shots had been fired at the Health, Education and Welfare complex at 11:28 a.m. Nevada County spokesman Pat Ward said a county employee and a patient were killed and a county employee was wounded at the Mental Health Department.

Another woman broke her ankle and suffered back and pelvic injuries when she jumped from a second-story window to escape the shooter. She was taken to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital.

Nine minutes later, a call came in reporting shots fired at Lyons Restaurant, not far from the complex. The restaurant's manager was declared dead at the scene and another victim was taken to the hospital, the sheriff's office said.

Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital spokesman Gary Cooke said the facility treated two victims: a 34-year-old man who is in good condition after undergoing surgery for gunshot wounds to the abdomen and arm; and a woman who suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was later transferred to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, about 40 miles away.

A statement from the sheriff's office described the man as approximately 40 to 50 years old with blond hair, a mustache and beard, wearing a red and tan flannel jacket and carrying a handgun.

He is believed to be driving a blue minivan, the statement said.

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