Austin: A Texas man went next door with a rifle and began shooting his neighbours after the family asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because their baby was sleeping, police said on Saturday.

Five people including an eight-year-old girl were killed in the shooting in the town of Cleveland, about 72 kilometres from Houston.

San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said authorities were still searching for the 39-year-old suspect. He said the suspect, whom he did not identify, used an AR-style rifle in the shooting.

Capers said there were 10 people in the house and that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims, all believed to be from Honduras, were found laying over two children inside.

“The Honduran ladies that were laying over these children were doing it in such an effort as to protect the child,” Capers said.

The confrontation followed family members walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, according to Capers, and that one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle.

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Three of the victims were women and one was a man. Their names were not released. Capers said the victims were between the ages of eight and about 40 years old.

Authorities have previously been to the suspect’s home, according to Capers. “Deputies have come over and spoke with him about him shooting his gun in the yard,” he said.