'As many as' 4 dead after a series of shootings in Kansas

Police responded to a series of shootings in Kansas that left "as many as" four dead and up to 20 wounded Thursday, according to local news reports.

Authorities confirmed as many as four shootings in Newton and Hesston, two rural towns north of Wichita. One of the shootings took place at Excel Industries, a lawnmower manufacturing company in Hesston.

The suspect, an Excel employee, was killed by law enforcement, Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said at a press conference.

Walton said he could not confirm the exact number of victims. The only confirmed casualty is the suspect, he said.

"This is just a horrible incident," he said. "Please bear with us. Be sensitive."

"We have so many crime scenes."

Hesston College, which is less than a mile away from Excel Industries, was on lockdown for more than an hour, as was a nearby grocery store.

Six victims - five of whom were seriously injured - were sent to Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, NBC News reported.

Multiple employees are injured from gun shot wounds. EMS is on scene. pic.twitter.com/W446vyFfLO

- Avery Anderson (@AAndersonKSN) February 25, 2016

Many being triaged and taken to area hospitals. pic.twitter.com/wVQmEfc9WK

- Hesston Record (@RecordTime) February 25, 2016

This story is developing. Check back for updates.