Two people were shot dead on Monday at a small-town motel in Minnesota, with the gunman later found dead, police said.
The shooting began at roughly 7pm local time at a Super 8 motel in Cloquet, some 140 miles north of Minneapolis.
A hotel employee called police saying they had found another employee that looked like they had been attacked, officers said.
The St Louis County Sheriff's Office said two people had been found dead, along with the suspect, at the motel and in a parked vehicle.
Residents in the surrounding area of Big Lake Road and Highway 33 were ordered to shelter in place while police responded to the shooting.
About 90 minutes later, the order was lifted after police reported finding the suspected gunman dead.
The suspected shooter was 32-years-old, police said, while one of the victims was a 22-year-old motel employee. The other victim was a 35-year-old.
A possible motive for the attack was not immediately released by authorities, and it was not clear whether the gunman and victims were known to each other.
“I am praying for those killed in another senseless act of gun violence tonight in Cloquet," Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“To the law enforcement officers who responded, thank you. The state stands ready to provide continued support to local authorities."
Cloquet is about 32 kilometres west of Duluth and partly lies within the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation.
The identities of the three victims were not being released until the families have been notified, police said.
Officials say more information will be released Tuesday, as more details are confirmed, with officers due to hold a press conference later.
