Texas police say a gunman has been shot dead by authorities following a shooting spree in the neighboring cities of Midland and Odessa that left at least five dead and 21 injured on Saturday. 

"There is no active shooter at this time," Midland police said on Facebook.

The gunman was described as a white male in his mid-30s. He was cornered by the police and gunned down at a local movie theater.

Previously, authorities reported multiple gunshot victims in the area. At least three law enforcement officers were among the casualties, and a small child was also injured. Medical officials said at least seven people remained in critical condition. 

One attacker, two cars

At a press conference, Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke said the rampage started after a traffic stop but said he was unable to shed any light on the suspect's motive.

Later, authorities said the shooter had been pulled over after failing to signal a left turn. He then started shooting through the rear window of his car at the troopers who had stopped him. One of the troopers was wounded and is in serious but stable condition, authorities said.

Police initially assumed there were two shooters involved in the attack, but later said it was likely that one person traveled in two different vehicles during the rampage.

Authorities cited reports earlier on Saturday of an active shooter at a local Home Depot store. They also said a postal truck had been hijacked.

US President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the shooting and added that FBI and other law enforcement agencies were "fully engaged."

The latest shooting comes less than a month after a man killed 22 people in the Texas city of El Paso, in an apparently racially motivated attack.

dj/sms(AP, dpa, Reuters)

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