Police say a gunman who barricaded himself with hostages inside a South Florida apartment complex has killed six people before being shot to death by a SWAT team.

Sgt. Eddie Rodriguez tells The Associated Press the hours-long standoff began around 6:30 p.m. EDT in a five-story building in Hialeah, just a few miles north of Miami.

He says the bodies of most of the victims were found throughout the apartment complex after police arrived. Another man was killed across the street when the gunman allegedly spotted him and took aim.

Rodriguez says the two hostages the man took were unharmed. Before the shootout, police had been able to communicate with the gunman.

Rodriguez says police were still investigating the motive and identifying the gunman and victims.