A woman went to see a neighbor for help. Later, 2 people and a dog were dead, officer injured.

Two people and one dog died and two others were injured, including a police officer, following a shootout in a southern Florida neighborhood.

Police were called at the Coconut Creek site in Broward County shortly after 7 am by a person reporting domestic disturbances at a neighbor's home, said Coconut Creek Police Chief Albert Arenal. at a press conference.

Initial reports indicate that there was a knife attack and that a woman went to the neighbor to ask for help, said Arenal.

An officer, Andrew Renna, was the first to arrive at the scene and was immediately hit by a shot while he was still in his squad's car. He scrambled away to escape the shots and was taken to the hospital.

Other officers arrived and met a man standing in a corner, holding a shotgun. According to Arenal, he dropped the weapon when he was confronted by police, identifying the suspect as being Jason Roseman, 44 years old.

Roseman was arrested at the scene.

The police then found a dead person in one of the block houses. A pit bull allegedly shot was also found at home, Arenal said at the press conference.

In a room on the upper floor, officers found several rifles and ammunition. What the police originally believed to be an explosive device was discovered in the garage. A mine clearance team later determined that the device was an accessory and was not real, said Arenal.

A witness told police that Roseman was living at home, but Arenal said they were still trying to confirm this information.

In a neighboring house, a woman was found dead in the driveway, said Arenal. In addition, in the alley of a third house, a man was found seriously injured. Arenal told reporters that the man was hospitalized "in an extremely critical state".

The right lung of officer Renna was punctured during the shooting, but he did not need to be operated on Saturday afternoon, Arenal said, adding that the officer was "in a very good stable state".

"We are very lucky for his condition and his current condition," said the police chief.

The authorities have not disclosed details of the killing or injury of victims, nor of their possible links with Roseman.