Los Angeles - Police in southern California Wednesday were investigating a brutal shooting spree in which one person was killed and three injured at a secluded retreat operated by a Korean-based Christian group.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the suspect in the late Tuesday killings was a 69-year-old man named John Chong who was known around the retreat centre as "Uncle". Police said that he first killed a woman and injured her husband in their bungalow and then went to another house on the property, where two residents succeeded in fighting him off.

The incident occurred at the Kkottongnae Retreat Camp, near the city of Temecula about 140 kilometres southeast of Los Angeles. Kkottongnae, which is run by the Congregation of the Sisters of Jesus, means "flower village" in Korean and is a Christian social service organization founded in Korea. The camp helps orphans and the homeless - some of whom were staying at the quiet mountain retreat. (dpa)