One person has been killed and at least 14 people wounded in a shooting at a packed nightclub in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The shooting took place at the Cameo Nightclub, the Cincinnati Police Department said on Twitter. At least 15 people were shot about 1am, WLWT-TV reported.

Several of the victims had life-threatening injuries, the station reported, quoting Assistant Police Chief Paul Neudigate.

There were hundreds of people inside the nightclub at the time and many of them fled when shots rang out, Neudigate said.

Police believe there was only one shooter, although they are still investigating if others were involved. The shooter is reportedly on the run. The shooter's motive is not yet known and nobody is in custody.

Those injured have been taken to four local hospitals, some by ambulance and some by their own means.

Neudigate told WLWT the shooting was one of the largest he had worked on in more than 20 years.

Police were tracking down the witnesses in a "chaotic crime scene".

"We are in the middle of a very horrific situation that occurred at the nightclub with multiple victims," he said.

"It's going to be a long night for our homicide units to investigate."