Eight children have been shot dead across multiple homes in one of the worst US mass shootings in two years.

A gunman struck down victims — ranging in age from a one-year-old baby to 14 years old — near Shreveport, Louisiana.

Two adult women and a teenager were also injured.

The children were located across multiple properties — with different media reports stating it was two or three homes.

The shootings were the result of a “domestic disturbance”, Shreveport police spokesman Chris Bordelon said.

Some of the children were related to the suspect, Bordelon said.

The gunman later died after a chase with officers who fired at the suspect, he said.

The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene of the shootings and was followed by police, according to Bordelon.

Police did not release the name of the suspect but did say he was an adult male.

Officials said they were still gathering details at the crime scenes south of downtown Shreveport.

“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” he said.

Outside one of the residences, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.

“I just don’t know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said.

“I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”

“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in north-western Louisiana with about 180,000 residents.

“It’s a terrible morning.”

It was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by the Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

-with AAP