Reports say three people are dead and seven are injured after a shooting at a movie cinema in the American state of Louisiana.

Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft, confirmed the fatalities and injuries, saying four police officers ran into the cinema to engage the shooter.

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One of the dead is the shooter, who turned the gun on himself. The shooter is a white male, 58, according to Police Chief Craft. 

Local news services say hundreds of police are at the scene. Photo: Instagram

Injuries range from critical to non-life threatening. Witnesses say the shooter was a white middle aged man.

Authorities know the identity of the shooter but are withholding the name, to not jeopardise the integrity of the investigation.

The shooting was contained to one cinema in the complex and witnesses say large numbers of police cars rushed to the scene.

The Advertiser reports it spoke to witnesses who said a man opened fire 20 minutes into a 7pm showing of Amy Schumer’s new film, Trainwreck.

The report said the man was sitting toward the back of theatre and opened fire on those in front of him.

Journalists on the ground have tweeted that they’ve been moved away from the cinema and a HAZMAT vehicle has arrived on the scene.

Star of the movie, Amy Schumer, took to Twitter to express her heart break.

My heart is broken and all my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Louisiana.

— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) July 24, 2015

Local Governor Bobby Jindal said: “I want to praise the first respondents”.

“A lot of us are horrified and shocked,” said Mr Jindal. “What we can do now is pray.

“This is an awful night for the United States.”

Police: Movie theater shooter was 58-year-old ‘lone white male’; Shooter ID not being released. 3 dead, 7 injured.

— KATC TV3 (@KATCTV3) July 24, 2015

At the scene of Grand 16 Theater on Johnston Street reported dead including shooter. Six confirmed injured. pic.twitter.com/miPsxTQGbD — Jessica Goff (@JGoffTDA) July 24, 2015

Lafayette Police received the call at approximately 730 pm, shooting involves multiple victims. — Lafayette PD (LA) (@LafayettePD_LA) July 24, 2015

Police: Gunman “fired randomly” at people in the theater.

— KATC TV3 (@KATCTV3) July 24, 2015