Los Angeles, Dec 3 (IANS): One of the suspects involved in a deadly mass shooting in southern California in which at least 14 people were killed, has been identified, CNN reported on Thursday.

The suspect was identified as Syed Farook, whose family has not been able to track him down and neither his wife since Wednesday morning, said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of CAIR - Council on American Islamic Relations.

On Wednesday at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, 60 miles east of Los Angeles, where employees of the county health department were attending a holiday event, two suspects -- a man and a woman -- opened fire, killing 14 people and injuring 17 others.

The suspects were later killed in a gun battle with police.

They had assault-style rifles and handguns, San Bernardino police chief Jarrod Burguan told reporters. They were dressed in what he called assault style clothing.

"I have no idea why he would he do something like this. I have absolutely no idea. I am in shock myself," Farhan Khan, Farook's brother-in-law, said. Farhan Khan said he last talked to Farook a week ago.

A third person who was caught running near the scene was detained, but police are not sure whether he was connected to shooting.

However, the possibility of a terrorist involvement was not immediately ruled out.

"I know one of the big questions that will come up repeatedly is 'Is this terrorism?' I'm still not willing to say that we know that for sure," David Bowdich, an assistant director for Los Angeles FBI's office, told reporters.