The suspect held over a mass shooting at a US shopping centre was a Turkish-born immigrant with a criminal record, police said.

Arcan Cetin, 20, has been named by police as the suspected gunman who opened fire at the Cascade Mall in Burlington in Washington state on Friday night.

Three women, a man and a girl were killed.

Police said Cetin was unarmed and "zombie-like" when he was detained near his home in Oak Harbour, Washington.

The suspect's criminal record includes three charges of domestic abuse and an arrest for drink driving, The Seattle Times reports.


Image: The shootings took place inside the Cascade Mall

Lt Mike Hawley, of the Island County Sheriff's Department, said Cetin is "a legal permanent resident" after immigrating from Turkey to the US.

The 20-year-old is expected to appear at Skagit County District Court on Monday.

Police carried out a massive search over more than 20 hours for the suspect.

Authorities said that a rifle was found at the scene of the shooting.

The motive for the attack is unknown, but the FBI said there was no evidence pointing to terrorism.

Dozens of people attended a prayer service for the victims on Saturday night at Central United Methodist Church in Sedro-Woolley, Washington.

Image: Cetin was detained a day after the attack

Burlington mayor Steve Sexton said the city "has probably changed forever".

Most of the identities of the victims have been withheld pending post-mortem examinations and notification of families.

But one of those killed in the attack has been revealed as 16-year-old Sarai Lara.

Her mother Evangelina Lara said she had survived cancer and was a happy student, according to The Seattle Times.

Ms Lara said she was shopping at Cascade Mall with Sarai and her younger sister, but they split up, with Sarai going to look for trousers.

News of the shooting spread through the shopping centre and Ms Lara tried to find her daughter but was unable to do so.