LOS ANGELES, Dec 25: Police hunted on Thursday for a gun-toting man who burst into a holiday party dressed as Santa Claus and opened fire, apparently causing a house blaze that left three people dead, a spokesman said.

The gunman entered a residence in Covina, 37km east of Los Angeles, just before midnight on Wednesday, police lieutenant Pat Buchanan said.

“At approximately 11:30 last night a man, who we have since identified as Bruce Pardo, dressed in a Santa Claus costume, went to a home where a Christmas Eve party was being thrown,” Buchanan said.

“He knocked on the door, went in and opened fire on about 30 guests.” Police received a series of emergency calls alerting them to the incident, and when they arrived on the scene, the house was engulfed in flames and guests were running out, he said. It was unclear how the blaze started.

Two girls, age 16 and eight, were hospitalised with gunshot wounds and a 13-year-old girl was treated for injuries that were not life threatening, he said.

After the fire was extinguished, rescuers found three bodies in the basement, Buchanan said, adding that more bodies could still be inside.

The suspect, who was using a handgun, was still at large and may have been acting on a marital grudge.—AFP