MIAMI, FLORIDA (AFP) - Six people were shot to death in a hostage drama near the US city of Miami that ended early on Saturday when police killed the suspect, police said.

The man allegedly took neighbours hostage in a Hialeah apartment building for reasons that were not immediately known, said police spokesman Sergeant Eddie Rodriguez.

"Six innocent people died and also the suspect who initiated this situation," Sgt Rodriguez added.

The team "entered the apartment where the suspect was holding a neighbour couple as hostages", Rodriguez said.

Among the dead were an elderly couple identified by their daughter as Mr Italo Pisciotti and Ms Samira Pisciotti. Sgt Rodriguez said they were the building's landlords.