US:A part-time police officer in Wisconsin killed at least five young people in a shooting rampage that sparked a manhunt that ended in his own death. An undetermined number of people were also injured in the shooting spree, writes Denis Staunton, Washington Correspondent.
The shootings took place around 3am in the town of Crandon, not far from the Canadian border. It has a population of just 2,000 and local news reports said the victims were young men between the ages of 17 and 20.
The officer suspected to have carried out the shootings was shot dead by police, CNN television reported.
Local officials would not confirm or deny the report, but said, however, that the manhunt was over.
The gunman was unofficially identified as an employee of Forest County Sheriff's Department who also served as a part-time police officer. Local WTMJ radio identified the gunman, as Deputy Tyler Peterson.
Some local reports said his actions may have resulted from the breakup of a relationship.
WAOW television said the gunman may have opened fire at a party in a local house.
The families of victims last night were congregating at a local chapel, seeking comfort.
Wisconsin state troopers were sent to the scene to assist in the inquiry being handled by state department of criminal investigation officials, said the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"This has been a very tragic evening. It's affected probably every family in this community," said Forest County supervisor Tom Vollmar.
Crandon, which is about 320km (200 miles) from the state capital of Milwaukee, was in lockdown after the shootings, with residents forbidden to leave their homes.
Witnesses reported hearing gunfire just before 3am at a house where at least 10 youths aged between 17 and 20 were present.
Crandon mayor Gary Bradley yesterday declined to comment on the details of the investigation.
"We are going to get together and be strong. We are a strong community. We always have been. This is agonising, but we will prevail," he said.
The area is known for logging, and fishing, hunting and snowmobiling.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported last month that more than 1.4 million murders, rapes, robberies and assaults were committed around the United States last year, or a violent crime every 22 seconds.
The number of victims of violent crime in the United States last year was the equivalent of the entire population of European Union member Estonia or the African state of Gabon falling victim to murder, rape, robbery or assault.
The rate of violent crime was up by 1.9 percent compared with 2005, with murders climbing by 1.8 percent to nearly 15,000 cases last year.
- (Additional reporting by Associated Press, AFP)