WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Eight children were killed in a shooting spree early Sunday in the southern US state of Louisiana in what police said appears to have been an incident of domestic violence.

The incident, which took place just after 6:00 am in the city of Shreveport, was the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in more than two years, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.

The gunman, who was not immediately identified but was an adult male, was fatally shot after a car chase and interaction with police, officials said.

Mayor Tom Arceneaux told CNN that it was not clear if the assailant died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or from police fire. No officers were injured in the incident, according to state police.

Police Corporal Chris Bordelon told a press conference that the “rather extensive crime scene” spanned three residences, which were being combed for evidence by investigators.

The deceased ranged in age from one to 14, Bordelon said.

“Some of the children inside were his descendants,” he added.

“We do believe him to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations,” Bordelon said, calling the incident a “domestic disturbance”.

Arceneaux told CNN that the gunman had some kind of relationship with two women, who had also shot, but the extent of those links is not yet known.

“The two women are in very, very critical condition so we’re not able to get information from them,” he said.

ABC affiliate KTBS reported that the two women were shot in the head.

In total, nine children were at the second residence visited by the gunman. One survived and was in hospital with a non-life-threatening injury, Arceneaux said.

Police said more details about the victims and the gunman would be released pending notification of next of kin.