Seven South Carolina law enforcement officers have been shot, one fatally, in a confrontation with a suspect who held children hostage in a home and fired on deputies, officials say.


The suspect was taken into custody and the children were unhurt after a two-hour stand-off in an upscale neighbourhood just outside the city of Florence.


The man shot three Florence County deputies from inside a home as they came to serve a warrant on Wednesday afternoon, Florence County Sheriff’s Major Mike Nunn said.


The suspect then shot four Florence city police officers, one fatally, as officers from all around the area swarmed in to help, Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler said.


A bulletproof vehicle had to be used to rescue the wounded officers as the man held children hostage inside for two hours, Nunn said.


Officials refused to say why they were serving a warrant on the man. They also did not name him or the wounded officers, nor did they give the conditions for the wounded.


City spokesman John Wukela said the dead officer as Terrence Carraway, 52, who had just celebrated 30 years as a police officer in the city. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.


Both Heidler and Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone had tears in their eyes as they spoke to reporters about two hours after the stand-off ended.


”I want you to pray for the family who lost the bravest police officer I have ever known,” Heidler said, visibly overcome by emotion at the news conference.


Condolences and outpourings of support rolled in at news of the shooting.


“The selfless acts of bravery from the men and women in law enforcement is real, just like the power of prayer is real,” Governor Henry McMaster tweeted.


President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences: “My thoughts and prayers are with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and the Florence Police Department tonight, in South Carolina.”