The death toll from a shooting rampage in the United States in which a man dressed as Santa Claus entered his former in-laws' house and opened fire on guests rose to eight today, police said.

Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, 45, shot guests at a Christmas Eve party before setting the suburban Los Angeles home on fire. He later committed suicide and his body was found at a relative's house in nearby Sylmar.

Earlier, police confirmed only six deaths but said the toll might rise as they identified badly burnt remains.

The suspect, carrying at least two handguns and a homemade incendiary device, began shooting as soon as he entered the house, Lt. Pat Buchanan of the Covina Police Department told reporters.

The house, owned by the parents of Pardo's ex-wife, was engulfed in flames when police arrived.

Pardo and his wife recently settled a contentious divorce after a year of marriage, police said.

"He died of self-inflicted wounds. We believe it was a marital dispute," said Buchanan.

Two people were wounded by gunfire, an eight-year-old girl who opened the door and was shot in the face and a 16-year-old girl who was shot in the back as guests fled the house. Some jumped from second-floor windows, police said. The girls' injuries are not considered life-threatening.

Witnesses among the 25 people attending the annual Christmas party told police that Pardo stripped off his Santa costume after the shooting and fled in street clothes.