A student at a Washington state high school is dead after opening fire in the cafeteria, killing one person and seriously wounding four others before apparently turning the gun on himself.

A student at a Washington state high school is dead after opening fire in the cafeteria, killing one person and seriously wounding four others before apparently turning the gun on himself.

The teenager opened fire with a handgun at Marysville-Pilchuck high school at about 10.40am on Friday, prompting chaos as hundreds of students and staff members fled and hid in classrooms.

Authorities placed the school in lockdown as police raced to the scene and sealed off the area, about 30 miles north of Seattle.

Local media identified the shooter as a freshman who had been a hunter and popular athlete. Some reports said he recently broke up with his girlfriend and had been the victim of bullying. Police did not immediately confirm the name.