Three police officers in Washington DC have been shot dead, whilst the gunman has barrciaded himself in his home, authorities have reported.

The shooting took place whilst the officers were serving an animal cruelty warrant to the occupant of a house in the 5000 block of Hanna Place Southeast near Benning Road.

Around 7.30am, the individual “refused to come outside” whilst officers “attempted to gain entry, the individual fired upon them,” police said.

The officers who were shot have been taken to hospital where their injuries have been deemed to be non-life-threatening.

A fourth cop who was present but not shot has also been hospitalised.

The gunman is understood to still be firing from his home.

The area has been blocked off whilst nearby schools have been placed in lockdown.

“This remains an active situation, and the individual has continued to fire from that location,” Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference.