Illinois police officer
Illinois police officer (Reuters)

Five people have been killed and one injured in a shooting in the Illinois town of Manchester, according to local reports.

The suspect is reportedly in custody after a police hunt and a child has been taken to a hospital in Springfield, Illinois, with injuries resulting from gunshot, WLDS radio and Fox News reported.

The shooting took place inside a public housing complex, according to News Channel 5, and several schools are now on lockdown in North Green, Winchester and Jacksonville.

The incident has been confirmed by Illinois state police and the mayor of Manchester, a town which is located 85 miles north of St. Louis.

"This is a nice little town and I have no problems with anybody. What took place, I cannot tell you," the mayor of Manchester, Ron Drake, said.

MORE TO FOLLOW...