Six young people have died after a part-time police officer opened fire at a house in the Midwestern US state of Wisconsin early on Sunday.
An off-duty sheriff's deputy shot dead his ex-girlfriend and five other people before being killed himself by a police sniper in the US state of Wisconsin.
The shootings took place in the town of Crandon, in the north of the state.
The shootings on Sunday have left the small town of Crandon, in the north of the Midwestern state, in shock.
The suspect, who was employed by the Forest County Sheriff's office, was reported to have been killed by a police sniper.
The gunman, named as Tyler Peterson, 20, worked full-time as a deputy sheriff in Forest County.
Unconfirmed reports say the attack followed an argument between the gunman and his girlfriend.
As well as his ex-girlfriend, he shot two childhood friends and a 14-year-old girl. His motive is not yet known.
The gunman was named as 20-year-old Tyler Peterson. Police Chief John Dennee said that he also worked part-time as a police officer, although he was not on duty at the time of the shooting.
Police Chief John Dennee said Peterson, who also worked as a part-time police officer, was not on duty at the time of the shooting.
The incident occurred shortly before 0300 local time (0800 GMT), when the gunman opened fire at a house where a group of young people had gathered.
The incident occurred at his ex-girlfriend's house shortly before 0300 local time (0800 GMT), where the young people had gathered to watch movies and eat pizza, reports said.
"The subject was located by law enforcement officers. The subject is deceased and is no longer a threat to the public," Sheriff Keith Van Cleve said.
A seventh youth is said to be in critical condition in hospital.
A seventh youth is in critical condition in hospital.
Tight-knit community
Tight-knit community
"It's a pretty tragic situation here," said Forest County Supervisor Tom Vollmar, who lives just outside Crandon, a community of 2,000 people, about 225 miles (360 kilometres) north of Milwaukee.
Residents of Crandon, a community of 2,000 about 225 miles (360 kilometres) north of Milwaukee, were ordered to stay in their homes while police hunted for Peterson.
The town of Crandon is in northern Wisconsin
At about 3pm local time he was "brought down by a sniper", Crandon Mayor Gary Bradley said.
Three of the victims were Crandon High School students, said schools Superintendent Richard Peters, and the other three had graduated within the past three years.
The young people had gathered at a house to watch late-night moviesThree of the victims were Crandon High School students, said schools Superintendent Richard Peters, and the other three had graduated within the past three years.
"There is probably nobody in Crandon who is not affected by this," Mr Peters said, adding that students would be especially affected.
"There is probably nobody in Crandon who is not affected by this," Mr Peters said, adding that students would be especially affected.
"They are going to wake up in shock and disbelief and a lot of pain."
"They are going to wake up in shock and disbelief and a lot of pain."
One of the dead was named as 14-year-old Lindsey Stahl.
Jenny Stahl, whose 14-year-old daughter Lindsay was the youngest victim, said she had thought the teenager would be safer staying at a friend's house than travelling home late at night.
Her mother, Jenny Stahl, said her daughter was staying at a friend's house.
"I'm waiting for somebody to wake me up right now. This is a bad, bad dream," Mrs Stahl said.
"I'm waiting for somebody to wake me up right now. This is a bad, bad dream," Mrs Stahl said.
"All I heard, it was a jealous boyfriend and he went berserk. He took them all out," she added.
Bud Evans, an elder at Crandon Praise Chapel, told BBC News 24 that worried relatives had gathered at the church as they waited for news.
Bud Evans, an elder at Crandon Praise Chapel, told BBC News 24 that worried relatives had gathered at the church as they waited for news.
"If there's five or six children or kids, young adults, whatever, involved in this, I'd know every one of them - the community's that small and that tight-knit," Mr Evans said.
"If there's five or six children or kids, young adults, whatever, involved in this, I'd know every one of them - the community's that small and that tight-knit," Mr Evans said.
The incident comes only six months after the Virginia Tech campus shooting, in which more than 30 people were killed.
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