MICHIGAN, Nov 30 (AFP) - A 15-year-old student opened fire at his Michigan high school on Tuesday (Nov 30), killing three teenagers and wounding eight other people before surrendering to police, authorities said, in what was the deadliest school shooting in the United States so far this year.

One teacher was among those wounded in the attack, which took place shortly after noon while classes were in session at Oxford High School, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said.

The sheriff's office said that the dead were a 16-year-old male, a 14-year-old female and a 17-year-old female.

Of the wounded, six were in stable condition and two were undergoing surgery.

The suspect was taken into custody and a semi-automatic handgun was seized, but there was no immediate explanation for what might have prompted the attack in Oxford, a small town about 65km north of Detroit.

"There was no resistance during the arrest, and the suspect has asked for a lawyer and has not made any statements as to a motive," the sheriff's office said.

"It's a very tragic situation," Undersheriff Michael McCabe told reporters.

"We have three deceased victims right now, who are all believed to be students," he said.

"We have lots of upset parents," he said.

McCabe said that police received more than a hundred 911 emergency calls shortly after noon, and that the shooter unleashed 15 to 20 shots over about five minutes.

The suspect was taken into custody within five minutes of the first 911 call, he said.