Image caption Members of Copley Township held a candle-lit vigil in honour of those killed in the shooting rampage

Seven people have been shot dead by a gunman in the north of the US state of Ohio, say reports.

The man, who has not been named, was later shot dead by police in Copley Township near Akron.

The violence is believed to have begun as a family argument - one of the victims was an 11-year-old girl, local media reported.

Five people were shot in one location and then two nearby, Police Chief Michael Mier told Channel 3 News.

One injured person had been taken to hospital, he said. Her condition is not known.

Witnesses told local media that many of the victims were family members of the gunman.