Gunman 'shoots dead police officer' and injures multiple people after opening fire near Texas A&M University

Scene: A shooter has been arrested near Texas A&M University, pictured

A police officer has reportedly been shot dead and 'multiple people' have been injured after a gunman opened fire near Texas A&M University.

The shooter, who was reportedly shooting from inside a house near the College Station campus, has been taken into custody.

One officer was shot dead and another was injured after gunfire broke out around 12.15 p.m., according to The Eagle newspaper in College Station.

At least five people were taken to hospital, it said. College Station Police Department could not confirm these injuries.

Shooting: A police officer has reportedly been shot dead and others have been injured when a gunman opened fire near Texas A&M University

A spokesperson told CNN 'multiple people' had been shot and said they were investigating if there are any additional suspects.

The university had issued a warning on its website of an 'active shooter' near the campus football stadium, Kyle Field, at 12.30 p.m.

KHOU reported that the suspect was firing shots from a house in a historical district of the city near to the campus. The Eagle added that the shooter had barricaded himself inside.

At 12.44, the university issued a statement saying the shooter had been taken into custody, but warned people to remain inside.

Fears: 'Multiple people' have been shot, including law enforcement officials

Warning: The university issued an alert to students to stay inside

'The scene is reportedly under control and there is no longer a danger to the public,' KBTX reported.

Texas A & M is the sixth biggest university in the country, but few students were on campus as classes for the fall semester begin later this month.

'It appeared to be fairly quiet,' Texas A&M spokeswoman Sherylon Carroll said of campus. 'It didn't appear to be a lot of people out and about at that particular time.'

Some students may have been on campus for final grades, which came out at midday, according to the A&M calendar.

Barbara Murphy, 84, who lives near Fidelity Drive, told the New York Times she heard about six or eight gunshots at around 12:30. About 15 minutes later, she heard another round of gunshots, she said.

'We’re doing a lot of remodeling around here, but then I realized it couldn’t just be a hammer,' she said. 'About that time a neighbor called and said don’t go outside.'

College Station lies about 90 miles northwest of Houston.

The police department said it would be releasing further information shortly.