Three police officers were killed and two others were seriously injured in a shooting in the US state of Pennsylvania. The attacker was also killed in return fire.

Al Jazeera reported this information in a report on Thursday (September 18).

According to reports, the deceased and injured officers went to the scene following a tip-off about a family dispute that had begun the previous day.

Two injured officers were being treated at a local hospital Wednesday in critical but stable condition after the attack. Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris told reporters there that “the shooter is deceased.” He did not provide details about how the incident occurred.

He said, "The full range of Pennsylvania State Police equipment is being utilized in this incident." The scene is still considered a "highly active area."

Paris said a "large team" will be formed jointly with the York County District Attorney's Office and that he has already contacted the FBI about this.

The commissioner was accompanied by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who arrived at the scene in North Codorus Township, about 115 miles west of Philadelphia, to meet with the families of the officers killed and injured.

“This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day for York County and all of Pennsylvania,” Governor Shapiro said.

Five police officers were shot in the incident. On February 22 of this year, one officer was killed in a shootout with police during a hostage situation at a local hospital. The gunman also died in that incident.

Meanwhile, a local school district ordered students and staff to stay inside their buildings as a precaution as nearby roads were closed after news of the shooting spread. That order was lifted later in the afternoon.

US Attorney General Pamela Bondi has called such anti-police violence a "scourge of society."