Washington/IBNS/UNI: Four people were killed in a mass shooting in the U.S. state of Georgia, authorities said.

According to local police, the shooting occurred at around 10:45 am (1445 GMT) on Saturday in the Dogwood Lakes area of the town of Hampton in southwestern Henry County, which is about 45 km from Georgia's capital Atlanta.

The victims were three men and one woman, Hampton Police Chief James Turner told a news conference, saying police detectives are investigating at least four crime scenes.

Police are still looking for the suspect, who has been identified as Andre Longmore, a 41-year-old local male resident.

The Hampton police department released a photo and description of the suspect, who is believed to be driving a 2017 black GMC Acadia and carrying a black handgun.

Officials asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact the police.

"Do not approach, call 911 if you see him," said the police department on its Facebook page.

At least 382 mass shootings have happened across the United States so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit group that defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people are shot, excluding the shooter.