Five people have been killed in a shooting by a rural Texas church after a nine-hour stand-off with US police.

Witnesses have reported that the shooter, who later turned the gun on himself, had clashed with a member of the church opposite his house on Sunday evening. AP Crenshaw exchanged sharp words with Mr Wes Brown of the Sash Assembly of God church, according to Independent online news.

After the clash Crenshaw returned to shoot Brown, 61 and then pastor James Armstrong, 42 witnesses told.

Fannin County Sheriff Kenneth Moore said police found both men dead in a grassy area near the church car park.

Crenshaw’s bloody killing spree also saw him shoot two other women driving in a truck towards the church.

"We believe it was just random," Moore said of the women's slayings. "They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Police have said that they believe Crenshaw then circled back toward the church, fired at a house and cafe near the church without harming anyone, then simply went back into his own house.

Church members then alerted the police and the long stand-off began. Police finally managed to get into the house after firing tear gas into the home. Crenshaw was found in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to head, Moore said. Moore added that the motive for the shootings at the Texas church was under investigation.