At least 10 people have been killed in a series of shootings across two towns in the southern US state of Alabama.
At least 10 people have been killed in a series of shootings across two towns in the southern US state of Alabama.
Officials say there had been at least four separate shooting incidents, before the gunman killed himself.
Officials say there had been at least four separate shooting incidents, before the gunman killed himself.
Reports say the man started firing at a petrol station in the town of Samson and five people died when he opened fire on a home.
He fired on homes, a petrol station, shops and vehicles in Samson and Geneva near the Florida border.
There were further fatalities in a shop in the neighbouring town of Geneva, police told Reuters news agency.
Five people - including a child - were killed in one home. Some of the victims are believed to have been members of the gunman's family.
Police say the gunman shot a woman when he started firing at a petrol station in Samson. He then drove 19km (12 miles) east to Geneva.
The body of his mother has been found at her home, which was burned down, the Associated Press agency quotes local coroner Robert Preachers as saying.
It is not clear whether she was shot. The coroner added that the suspect had killed his grandparents, aunt and uncle in Samson.
Gunfire exchange
Gunfire exchange
Local media report that the suspect shot at several vehicles on the highway before firing at two shops in Geneva.
The gunman fired shots at other targets in the town.
At one point, officers rammed his car and gunfire was exchanged, according to reports.
"He just cruised his automobile through Samson and was spraying the people with semi-automatic weapons [fire] at random," the Reverend Mike Shirah, of Geneva's Maple Baptist Church, told the BBC.
From Samson, he drove 19km (12 miles) east to Geneva.
At one point, officers rammed his car and gunfire was exchanged.
A state trooper's car was hit several times, leaving the trooper wounded by broken glass.
A state trooper's car was hit several times, leaving the trooper wounded by broken glass.
A police officer told Reuters that two of the dead were the wife and child of a deputy sheriff from Geneva. Several people were also wounded.
A police officer told Reuters news agency that two of the dead were the wife and child of a deputy sheriff.
There is no indication yet of a motive for the killings. The FBI has sent an agent to assist the local sheriff's office.
There is no indication yet of a motive for the killings. The FBI has sent an agent to assist the local sheriff's office.
Samson has a population of about 2,000 people; Geneva's population is about about 4,400. The towns are near the Florida border.
Samson has a population of about 2,000 people; Geneva's population is about about 4,400. The towns are near the Florida border.
The BBC's Andy Gallagher in Florida says the towns are in a quiet rural area and the local community will be shocked that this incident has happened in a such a place.
The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Florida says the towns are in a quiet rural area and the local community will be shocked that this incident has happened in a such a place.
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