A law enforcement officer killed at least five people in a shooting rampage in northern Wisconsin early Sunday morning, CNN reported.

The incident took place in the northeast Wisconsin town of Crandon, 362 km north of Milwaukee and not far from the Canadian border, according to the report.

The suspect, Tyler Peterson, is a local deputy sheriff who fired all the shots in the incident.

Tom Vollmar, supervisor of the Forest County where Crandon situates, said the death toll could be five or six, and the neighborhood where the shooting occurred has been blocked off.

A witness told local media that the shooting broke out around 3 AM at a party in a Crandon home where 10 people aged between 17 and 20 were there at the time. At least five of them were shot dead.

It is not immediately known how many people were injured and their conditions.

It is also unclear what sparked the shooting and what is the motive of the suspect.

"Nobody expected anything like this," Vollmar said. "I guess nobody anywhere ever does."

At this time, authorities are still trying to apprehend Peterson, considered armed and dangerous, and who may be on foot.

The whole town is still locked up at present and local residents are told not to leave their house for the sake of their safety.

The incident shocked Crandon, a small town of about 2,000 people, located in a scenic region famous for logging, and fishing, hunting and snowmobiling. It's also home to the World Championship Off-Road Races.

"This has been a very tragic evening. It's affected probably every family in this community," said Vollmar.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2007)