Image caption Police have sealed off the University Heights complex where the shooting took place

A shooting at an apartment complex in the US city of Auburn, Alabama, has left three people dead and another three wounded, police say.

The attack happened during a party at the University Heights complex, home to many students from the nearby Auburn University.

Two of those killed were former Auburn University football players.

Police have charged a man, named as Desmonte Leonard, with murder but say he has not yet been captured.

At a news conference, Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said former university football players Edward Christian and Ladarious Phillips were killed. He named the third victim as Demario Pitts.

Mr Dawson said current football player Eric Mack was among those wounded.

"This is a trying time, not only university students and athletes, but it's young people. It's six young people that have been shot. As you can tell, the community is shaken by this and grieving today," Mr Dawson said.

Witnesses said the shooting broke out following an argument at a pool party on Saturday night.

Emergency vehicles converged on the apartment complex and the building was swathed in yellow police tape.

Witnesses said the shooting appeared to have taken place in an archway near the apartment complex information centre, near the edge of a car park. Several uniformed police officers were guarding the area.

Auburn is the largest city in eastern Alabama with more than 50,000 people. Some 25,000 students attend Auburn University.