NEWPORT CENTER, Vt. (AP) – At least one person was shot dead Thursday and the shooter held off police with a gun for roughly three hours before he was disarmed, apparently by his hostages.

There were unconfirmed reports that two other people had been shot, but authorities said they could only confirm that one other person was injured and they could not immediately say if it was from a gunshot.

“The good news is we do have him … a person has been contained,” Sgt. Bruce Melendy said.

Melendy said he could not say for certain how many people had been shot or what their conditions were.

Police were alerted to the shooting by a 911 emergency call at 4:22 p.m. The caller said a man was shooting inside the home on Vermont Route 105. Another 911 call was received by state police nine minutes later from another home a short distance away reporting another shooting.

The shooter took hostages, perhaps four, and held police off for three hours.

Police reported that there were occasional gunshots coming from the house where the man was holed up during the standoff, but reporters and others were kept far from the scene and could not witness the incidents.

WPTZ-TV reported that one of the three victims had been killed, although state police would not confirm any details.

“I can confirm that that’s what I’ve heard but I can’t confirm that it’s factual,” Col. Thomas Powlovich, state police commander, said from his home.

Powlovich said he had spoken with other commanders but could not personally describe the situation in Newport Center.

“Based on information that’s coming in, it’s a very serious situation, a very dangerous situation,” he said.

WCAX-TV reported that the shootings may have taken place at two different locations.

They were reportedly near each other.

There also was a report that one of the victims, who was being treated at North Country Hospital, was being interviewed by authorities who were relaying the information to officers at the scene.

Editors at the Newport Daily Express said Vermont Route 105 was closed down and police were preventing reporters and others from approaching the area.

A receptionist at North Country Hospital in Newport said victims had been taken to the hospital but she could not say how many or what their conditions were.

AP-ES-11-06-03 1957EST