A man with a history of mental violence shot six people to death and injured two others in a rampage in northwest Washington on Tuesday afternoon, local media reported.

The first shootings were reported shortly after 2 p.m. when police were called to an incident in the town of Alger, north of Seattle.

When the sheriff's deputy arrived at the scene, one person was already killed in the home, and the sheriff was later fatally shot in the head.

Other victims include two construction workers who were found shot nearby; a person killed at another scene; and a motorist killed on Interstate 5.

A state trooper and a motorcyclist was wounded during the rampage.

The suspect eventually turned himself in at a local police station after a high speed car chase, the police said, adding an investigation into the tragedy is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2008)