Three people have been shot dead in a small town near Philadelphia with police hunting a suspect who is believed to have escaped the scene in a stolen car.

Residents have been urged to stay inside and a St Patrick’s Day parade has been cancelled.

The shootings happened in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, about 28 miles from Philadelphia.

Falls Township police said in a statement that, according to a preliminary investigation, the suspect is believed to be 26 year-old Andre Gordon.

The force said Gordon shot and killed two people at an address in Levittown before killing another person as he fled the scene.

He then went on to carry out a carjacking at gunpoint in a parking lot, police said. The vehicles driver did not suffer any injuries.

Middletown Township police said: “It is unknown at this time if they are targeted or random”.

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The shelter-in-place order was issued at around 9.30am local time (1.30pm GMT).

“This is a fluid situation and we are asking the community to take some precautions,” Middletown Township police said.

“Do NOT travel to Falls Township until further notice. If you live in areas that border Falls, you should shelter in place until further notice.”

A shopping mall has been told to close until further notice, while the area’s Target store has chosen to shut as well.

Brian Fitzpatrick, who represents the wider Bucks County area in the House of Representatives, said in social media posts that there had been “a carjacking and a shooting in two sections of Falls Township”.

He said he was “in touch with law enforcement officials as they pursue the suspect”.

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