A police officer and two employees were wounded when a man opened fire in a hospital in the US state of Alabama.

He was shot dead by police shortly afterwards.

Police were called after a man with a gun was seen walking through the hospital.

When he was confronted by officers, he started shooting and wounded one of the officers. 

The second officer then shot and killed the man.

Detectives are still working to determine why the armed man was in the hospital.