A gunman slaughtered four people and wounded three more including a police officer during an attack which ended with the suspect being shot dead himself, authorities said.
The rampage began around 5pm on Monday when the gunman, who has not yet been publicly identified, shot and killed two women and wounded a man near the centre of Denver in the US, Police Chief Paul Pazen said a news briefing.
The suspect then fled in a car and fatally shot a man in east Denver's Cheesman Park neighbourhood, before opening fire again in a west Denver community where no one was hit, Pazen continued.
According to the police chief, the suspect twice exchanged gunfire from his vehicle with officers pursuing him, disabling a car.
From there, the gunman drove into the neighbouring city of Lakewood, where he shot and killed a fourth person inside an unspecified business, according to Lakewood Police spokesman John Romero.
The gunman fled from Lakewood police when they attempted to pull him over and engaged in a running gun battle with officers before fleeing on foot and entering a hotel, where he shot and wounded a clerk, Romero said.
He then shot at officers again, wounding one of them, before police shot him dead, Romero told reporters.
The conditions of the wounded officer and civilians were not immediately known, Romero said.
The authorities believe that the shootings were all connected and that the gunman acting alone, it is reported.
“This one individual was responsible for this very violent crime spree that took place this evening,” added Police Chief Pazen.
Authorities are investigating the motive behind the gunman are reportedly searching the area near Target in Belmar for possible additional suspects
