Postal worker kills six and herself in CaliforniaLast Updated Tue, 31 Jan 2006 09:16:00 EST
CBC News

A former postal worker opened fire at a mail-processing plant in California, killing six people and then herself, authorities said early Tuesday.

One other person was in critical condition in hospital with a gunshot wound to the head.

A California Highway Patrol vehicle blocks entry to a U.S. mail facility after the fatal shooting of several workers in Goleta, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 31. (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant)

The woman began shooting about 9:15 p.m. local time on Monday after arriving at the plant in Santa Barbara, police said.

When police arrived, they found two bodies outside the building.

Inside were two wounded people, one of whom died later at hospital.

Four more bodies, including that of the woman believed to be the shooter, were found about five hours later.

The ex-worker had shot herself in the head, said Jim Anderson, sheriff of Santa Barbara County.

"We do not believe there is any additional threat to the community," Anderson added.

All the victims were believed to be current employees at the sprawling distribution plant in Goleta,150 kilometres northwest of Los Angeles, where about 300 people work.