Five children and three adults have been found dead inside a Texas home.

Harris County Sheriff spokesman Thomas Gilliland told KHOU-TV that deputies were called to a house in the Houston area on Saturday.

He said deputies subsequently received information indicating that a man inside the home was wanted on an aggravated assault warrant.

Mr Gilliland said while waiting for a High Risk Operations Unit, deputies spotted the body of a child through a window. Four deputies forced themselves inside, prompting the 49-year-old suspect to begin shooting.

Deputies pulled back, and the man surrendered about an hour later.

The relationship between the suspect and victims was not immediately known.