Ten people, including children, have been shot at an apartment complex in San Bernardino, California, police say, with three people in critical condition.

“We got a call about 10.45pm for shots fired,” San Bernardino spokesman Captain Richard Lawhead said.

“We found 10 victims down at the scene. Three are extremely critical.”

The shooting happened on a hot holiday weekend in the city that is about 96 kilometres east of Los Angeles.

#Breaking: Capt Lawhead of #SanBernardino PD says: 10 people shot, 3 critically injured, all still alive. Multiple handguns & rifles fired by unknown suspects who fled scene. Does not appear to be terrorist-related, neighbors say this is gang territory @CBSLA #CBSLA #KCAL9 pic.twitter.com/T8PpzdHOaq

— Cristy Fajardo (@fajardonews) September 3, 2018

Patrons at nearby bar told me that none of them heard any gunfire because the music was too loud. pic.twitter.com/CywONwv3o9

— Brian Rokos (@Brian_Rokos) September 3, 2018

People were gathered outside playing games in a common area of an apartment complex of about 100 units, police said.

Captain Lawhead said that as of early Monday, detectives did not have a suspect or a motive in the shooting.

Police believe there was “an exchange of gunfire” he said.

“I can tell you multiple shots were fired, I don’t want to guess how many,” Captain Lawhead said.

https://twitter.com/ShadilayAlways/status/1036554708809183233

No weapons were recovered at the scene, he said.

Local media quoted residents describing the incident.

Alysa Marie told CNN said she heard 15 to 20 shots.

“My brother-in-law could hear bullets flying past our house. He was outside at the time of the shooting,” she said.

Another resident Eduardo Rivas said: “I heard around four shots, then what sounded like a motorcycle speeding off. After that (it was) just a continuation of gunshots.”

The shooting took place a week after a gunman shot nine people and killed two competitors at a video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida.

-AAP