A man gunned down five people at a business in suburban Chicago, before he was shot and killed.

Gary Martin also shot and wounded five police officers in the attack at the Henry Pratt Co warehouse in Aurora. Workers at the plant said he was employed there.

Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman said the 45-year-old was shot and killed.

The city’s director of communications Clayton Muhammad told the ABC7 news channel, that the police officers were in stable condition.

“May God bless the brave law enforcement officers who continue to run towards danger,” Illinois governor said at a news conference on Friday afternoon.

Mass shootings in America Show all 8 1 /8 Mass shootings in America Mass shootings in America Camden shootings – 1949 Howard Unruh killed 13 people, including three children, during a 12-minute walk through his neighborhood on September 6, 1949, in Camden, New Jersey, when he was 28 years old. The incident became known as the "Walk of Death". Unruh was found to be criminally insane and died in 2009 after a lengthy illness at the age of 88, following 60 years of confinement. Alamy Mass shootings in America University of Texas tower shooting – 1966 Charles Whitman killed 17 people and injured 31 others in Austin, Texas. After stabbing his mother and wife the night before, he headed to the University of Texas, where he opened fire on people in the campus and streets from the observation desk. He was shot dead after a policeman and civilian reached the scene. Austin History Center, Austin Public Library Mass shootings in America Easter Sunday Massacre – 1975 James Ruppert killd 11 family members in his mother's house, which included his mother, brother and his wife, as well as their eight children. He used a magnum, two handguns and a rifle. Mass shootings in America Wilkes-Barre shootings – 1982 Former prison guard, George Banks, shot dead 13 people in Pennsylvania, including five of his own children. AP Photo/Times Leader Mass shootings in America Wah Mee massacre – 1983 Three men, Kwan Fai Mak, Wai-Chiu Ng, and Benjamin Ng, killed 13 people who were in Seattle's Wah Mee gambling club. YouTube/KIRO 7 News Mass shootings in America San Ysidro McDonald's massacre – 1984 James Huberty killed 21 people and injured 19 others after he walked in a McDonald's in San Diego. He was shot dead by a sniper after 78 minutes of him entering the restaurant. Alamy Mass shootings in America Palm Sunday massacre – 1984 Ten people were shot dead from handguns at close range in a New York home. A baby girl was the only survivor after convicted dealer, Christopher Thomas, shot three women, one teenage girl and six children in their Brooklyn home. Thomas was convicted of manslaughter and cleared of murder. He was released from prison after 32 years. Mass shootings in America Edmond post office shooting – 1986 Patrick Sherrill, a postal worker at the Edmond post office in Oklahoma, killed 14 co-workers and injured 6 others, before he shot himself. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Collection

“We have an active shooter incident at 641 Archer Av. This is an active scene. Please avoid the area,” the Aurora Police Department had earlier said on Twitter

At 3pm, the city of Aurora, located 40 miles west of Chicago, reported that the shooter was in custody but said the area was still in lock-down at that time.

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The Chicago FBI also responded to the scene to “assist local law enforcement”, as local schools went into lock-down.

John Probst, an employee at the company, told a local television network, he ran out of the back door as the shooting unfolded. Mr Probst said he recognised the gunman and that he worked for the company.

“What I saw was the guy running down the aisle with a pistol with a laser on it,” Mr Probst said.

The Associated Press said Presence Mercy Medical Centre was treating two patients and a third had been transferred by helicopter to another hospital, spokesman Matt Wakely said.

Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and Advocate Lutheran General Hospital each had one patient from the shooting, spokeswoman Kate Eller said. Rush Copley Medical Centre received three patients from the shooting and all are being treated for non-life threatening injuries, according to spokesperson Courtney Satlak.

Donald Trump was been briefed on events.