A shooting at a Mardi Gras parade at Pass Christian in Mississippi has left two people dead and four injured.

Mississippi police chief Tim Hendricks confirmed the Sunday afternoon shooting to WLOX-TV.

Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove identified the victims as 29-year old Carlos Bates and 43-year-old Isaiah Major III, both of Mississippi.

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A witness to the shootings told the Sun Herald she heard about 12 shots and thought it was fireworks at first.

The gun shots scattered the nearby crowd of around 200 people, and forced the parade to finish early.

Police Chief Tim Hendricks confirmed two people had dead and at least four others were being treated in hospital.

“It’s chaos,” he told The Sun Herald.

Mr Hendricks did not comment on the condition of those being hospitalised.

The annual gay pride parade in Pass Christian is one of the largest on the conservative Mississippi Gulf Coast, drawing in revellers from neighbouring areas.

“What a great day it had been,” reveller Brian Wileman told the newspaper.

“What a shame. I can’t believe people would bring weapons to a parade.”

This year’s parade drew an audience of around 50,000 – the largest since Hurricane Katrina.