Two police officers were shot dead and a third injured when they were called to a family dispute in California.

Following the shooting in Palm Springs the suspect escaped.

Police chief Bryan Reyes identified the two dead officers as Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny and said they had been standing near the front door of the house, speaking to the gunman when he suddenly shot them.

Ms Zerebny, 27, had recently returned to the force from maternity leave and was the mother of a four-month-old daughter.

Mr Vega, a father of eight, was a 35-year veteran of the force who was due to retire in December.

Streets were sealed off and people evacuated following the gunman's disappearance on Saturday, and those already in their homes were warned to stay inside and lock their doors.

Mr Reyes did not identify the shooting suspect, but indicated police had previous dealings with him.

Neighbour Frances Serrano said she called police after the suspect's father came to her house opposite and told her his son was "acting crazy".

"He said his wife left because she was so scared of him," she said, adding her father warned that his son threatened to shoot police if they arrived.

Ms Serrano said the man police were looking for had once been in jail and had to wear a monitor on his ankle when he was first released. But she said he had always been friendly and polite to her and her family.

"We never had any problems with him," she said.