Santa Barbara, California (BBN)-A series of drive-by shootings in the Californian city of Santa Barbara has left seven people dead, US police say.

The shootings took place near a student campus belonging to the University of California-Santa Barbara.

The suspected gunman is among the dead.

University officials and the police issued alerts calling on people in the area to stay indoors.

BBN/SS-24May14-4:40pm (BST)