A woman shot and wounded three people at YouTube's headquarters in Northern California, U.S. before shooting herself.

Police said three people had been hospitalised with gunshot injuries following the shooting in the city of San Bruno, and that a female suspect was found dead at the scene. "We have one subject who is deceased inside the building with a self-inflicted wound," San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini told reporters. "At this time, we believe it to be the shooter."

Gunshots erupted at YouTube's offices in California today, sparking a panicked escape by employees and a massive police response, before the shooter -- a woman -- apparently committed suicide.

Employees recounted frantic scenes as they fled the headquarters of the Google-owned video sharing service near San Francisco, with one saying he saw blood on the floor as he escaped. "We were sitting in a meeting and then we heard people running because it was rumbling the floor. First thought was earthquake," employee Todd Sherman tweeted.

Sherman said that as he headed for an exit "someone said that there was a person with a gun," and added "at that point every new person I saw was a potential shooter." Sherman's tweets continued: "I looked down and saw blood drips on the floor and stairs. Peeked around for threats and then we headed downstairs and out the front."

Some 1,700 people work at the YouTube headquarters. Images broadcast on local TV stations showed employees leaving with their hands raised. Other footage appeared to show evacuees forming a queue before being individually frisked by police. Video captured by a nearby helicopter showed a glass door shattered in its centre, with glass fragments strewn across the ground outside. Another YouTube employee, Vadim Lavrusik, tweeted: "Active shooter at YouTube HQ. Heard shots and saw people running while at my desk. Now barricaded inside a room with coworkers." Later, Lavrusik said he had escaped to safety.

Google communications tweeted: "Re: YouTube situation, we are coordinating with authorities and will provide official information here from Google and YouTube as it becomes available." This was later followed by Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeting, "There are no words to describe the tragedy that occurred today. @SusanWojcicki & I are focused on supporting our employees & the @YouTube community through this difficult time together. Thank you to the police & first responders for their efforts, and to all for msgs of support."

The White House and President Donald Trump said they had been briefed about the shooting incident and were monitoring the situation.

YouTube headquarters is located some 50 kilometres from the main Google campus in Mountain View, California.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 04, 2018 06:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).