Three people were killed and two wounded in a late Saturday shooting in a working class neighborhood in Pasadena, California, local officials said.

Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez told reporters that the shooter and his targets appeared to have a landlord-tenant relationship, but did not elaborate.

One of those killed was a neighbor who apparently showed up to help.

After the fatal shootings the 35-year-old male gunman barricaded himself in a nearby house and fired again when a police officer arrived to help one of the victims, Sanchez said.

The shooter then got on the phone, called the 911 emergency number and admitted to his crime. A hostage negotiator was quickly brought in and the shooter was talked into surrendering, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The shooter had three weapons, but mainly used a semi-automatic rifle, Sanchez said.

The Times identified the victims as two men and a woman, while a man and a woman suffered minor to moderate injuries.