Houston mass shooting: Five children and three adults found dead after police shoot-out

A 49-year-old man surrendered to officers

In this image made from a video, authorities investigate after reports of an active shooter in a home Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, in Houston (AP)

Eight people — including five children and three adults — were found dead inside a Texas home following the arrest of a man who exchanged gunfire with police, authorities in the US state have said.

Deputies were called to a home in the Houston area late Saturday to perform a welfare check, Harris County Sheriff spokesman Thomas Gilliland told KHOU-TV. Gilliland said deputies subsequently received information indicating that a man inside the home was wanted on a warrant for aggravated assault on a family member.

While waiting for a High Risk Operations Unit to arrive at the scene, deputies spotted the body of a juvenile through a window, Gilliland said. Four deputies then forced their way into the home, prompting the 49-year-old male suspect inside to begin shooting. Deputies pulled back and waited for the operations unit to arrive.

The man surrendered about an hour later.

"At this time we have what appears to be five children and three adults," Gilliland said. "Ages and genders we do not have, and cause of death we do not have. The medical examiner will have to determine a cause of death."

The relationship between the suspect and the unidentified victims wasn't immediately known. No further details were released.

AP