Police identify gunman in US shooting

Police Saturday identified the gunman who killed seven people before committing suicide in a shooting spree in the US state of Missouri earlier this week.

The attacker was identified as 36-year-old Joseph Jesse Aldridge, who had "a minor criminal history", Xinhua reported citing police.

Aldridge, armed with a handgun, reportedly shot and killed seven people Thursday night in four locations in the small town of Tyrone. He then shot himself in his truck.

Police said four of the seven victims were two couples, who were also Aldridge's cousins. The authorities, however, did not disclose the identities of Aldridge's other three victims.

Aldridge's mother was also found dead in a fifth location, but police said the woman died of natural causes.