"The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the Texas County Sheriff's Department was called at about 10:15 p.m. Thursday by a frightened girl, who reported gunshots in a residence. She fled to a neighbor's home, and lawmen later found two bodies in the girl's home," the Houston Herald newspaper reported.

Further investigation found another five fatalities and one additional wounded victim at three additional Tyrone residences, the patrol told the Herald.

The injured people were taken to hospital.