Five dead after 'disgruntled ex-worker goes on gun rampage'

Authorities have identified Gary Martin as the gunman who killed several employees at an Aurora

Five people have been confirmed dead after a gunman went "ballistic" in an industrial building in the US.

Five police officers have also been shot whole multiple people have been injured.

The "active shooter" has been "neutralised" but officers are still urging nearby residents in Aurora, Illinois, to stay indoors.

Police chief Kristen Ziman said that Gary Martin shot at officers as soon as they entered the Henry Pratt company building in Aurora.

Ms Ziman said that Martin, 45, was also killed.

Clayton Muhammad, the director of communications for the city of Aurora, said the officers were in a stable condition.

The mother of Martin said he was laid off two weeks ago and became "stressed out".

“He was way too stressed out,” the woman, who declined to give her name, told the Chicago Sun Times.

The woman had met with police before embracing relatives outside the Aurora police station and leaving Friday evening.

A local coroner has been called to the scene and confirmed there has been at least one fatality, with the police officers said to be "stable."

A number of people have been airlifted to hospital, according to the Daily Herald. And one hospital confirmed it was treating two patients for non-life threatening injuries.

A nearby school and some businesses have been put on lockdown, including The Henry Pratt Company.

John Probst, a Henry Pratt employee who escaped the building, told ABC 7 he saw a man he says is a co-worker holding a pistol with a laser scope.

He said the man, believed to be in his 30s, had showed up for his 7am shift as usual before he unleashed terror 20 feet in front of him.

"He was shooting everybody," John said, adding that he ran for his life.

"One of the guys was up in the office, he said this person was shooting and he come running down and he was bleeding pretty bad, and the next thing you know he was walking back and forth.

"I heard more shots, and we just left the building."

Another witness said the shooter said nothing as he passed them.

FBI agents were called to the scene at around 2.37pm local time. (8.37 UK time).

Aurora Police said: "Active Shooter Incident has been secured.

"Shooter is no longer a threat to the area. Continued police presence will remain as investigation continues. Parents please contact your local school districts for dismissal plan."

The city of Aurora added on Twitter: "There is an active shooter near Highland and Archer. Aurora Police are on the scene. More information will be available soon."

They then added: "EMERGENCY UPDATE | 3 p.m. THE SHOOTER HAS BEEN APPREHENDED! The area is still on lock down! More information will be provided soon."

Video footage on local media showed numerous police cars surrounding a large commercial building in Aurora, about 40 miles west of Chicago.

President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation, the White House confirmed.

"The President has been briefed and is monitoring the ongoing situation in Aurora, IL," Sarah Sanders said in a written statement.

Senator Dick Durbin tweeted: "My heart breaks for Aurora. I'm tracking updates on the situation with my staff. Thank you to the members of law enforcement who are responding to the emergency."

School District 129 posted on social media alerting parents that they were on lockdown as police investigate.

It said: "There are reports of an active shooter at the Henry Pratt building near Cleveland and Prairie just east of Luigi's Pizza, as a result, we are holding all district students in place for their safety, there is a police presence in the area.

"Per directions from the county sheriff, the District has been advised to go into a soft lockdown situation across the district. Teaching will continue with reduced movement.

"Normal operations will resume when the soft lockdown has been lifted. No one will be allowed to leave or enter our buildings until the soft lockdown has been lifted."

Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, tweeted: "This is a scary, sad day for all Illinoisans and Americans."