Wednesday, August 11, 1999 Published at 10:48 GMT 11:48 UK
Picture gallery: Day centre shootings
Heavily armed SWAT teams have been deployed to track down the gunman.
Police surrounded a hotel in the Chatsworth district of Los Angeles, but a search revealed the suspect was not inside.
Children were led to safety by police shortly after the attacker sprayed the lobby of North Valley Jewish Community Centre with gunfire.
With the gunman still at large, police attempt to keep frantic parents back from the scene of the shootings.
A 16-year-old female victim is taken to hospital.
Many were faced with an agonising wait to hear if friends and relatives were safe.
Relieved parents were reunited with their children.
Some youngsters were unaware of the drama going on around them.