NEW YORK: A shooting early Friday at a supermarket in a town near New York has left three people dead, including the alleged gunman, local media reported.

Police and prosecutors for the town of Old Bridge, New Jersey, confirmed there had been a shooting incident, but said an official statement would only come later.

According to WABC television, the shooting took place around 4:00 am inside a Pathmark store.

The Asbury Park Press, a local newspaper, quoted Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry saying that the killer was an ex-marine who arrived at the supermarket wearing camouflage and carrying a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a pistol.

He shot a young man and a young woman dead, then himself, the mayor was quoted as saying. The shooter had been working at the store for about two weeks, according to the report.

Store employees were stocking shelves when the gunman entered, WABC television reported.