An off-duty policeman went on shooting rampage killing six teenagers at a house party before being brought down by a sniper in the US Wisconsin State.

A seventh victim was in critical condition. Reports suggested that a fight with his ex- girl friend, who was amongst those attending the party in a private home in Crandontown, was what had motivated the 20-year-old gunman, identified asTyler Peterson.

Peterson worked as a Sheriff Deputy and a part-time police man and was not on duty at the time of the shooting. The mother of one of those killed was quoted as saying that the suspect might have been a jealous boyfriend. Among the victims were three students of a local high school and three recent graduates.

A bad dream

The town of about 2000 residents remained locked down for hours as Peterson evaded law-enforcement officials after the pre-dawn shooting spree yesterday. Crandon Mayor Gary Bradley said that the suspect was dead. ?He was brought down by a sniper,? Bradley said.

At least eight people were inside the house at the time of the attack, family members say. ?I?m waiting for somebody to wake me up right now,? said Jenny Stahl, 39, the mother of 14-year-old Lindsey Stahl, who was killed in the shooting. ?This is a bad, bad dream. All I heard it was a jealous boyfriend and he went berserk,? she was quoted as saying.