A man who killed six people on a US shooting spree last month has blamed his actions on the ride-sharing company he worked for.

Jason Brian Dalton, 45, told police when he was arrested for the attack that the Uber app on his phone "literally took over his mind and body," according to local newspaper The Kalamazoo Gazette and Michigan Live.

Dalton reportedly told detectives that a "devil head" symbol would pop up when he opened the app and a devil-like creature would give him assignments.

Det. William Moorian - who interviewed the alleged killer - said in his report that Dalton told him that "a devil head popped up on his screen and when he pressed the button on the app, that is when all the problems started."

His comments prompted the officers to ask him about the assignment Uber gave him on the day of the attack, to which Dalton responded that he didn't remember anything from the time he logged onto the app earlier that day.

“Dalton was asked if he recalled shooting some people tonight and he said he did recall that, but other than that, he doesn’t remember anything,” Moorian wrote.

“Dalton said that it starts out that you have to follow the navigation, but it gets to the point where you don’t have to drive at all, the car just goes ... Dalton said he was seeing himself from outside of his body.”

“Dalton said that he understands now how the other mass shootings take place,” the detective wrote.

“Dalton explained how he has experienced a full body takeover, that is how he can understand the other mass shootings.”

The accused has also filed a $10m civil rights lawsuit against Uber, accusing the company of ripping him off, failing to pay him back wages and neglecting to invite him to “corporate parties,” the Reuters news agency reports.

His hand-written application also blames the company for his being in prison.

The note reads:

In a statement, Uber said:

Dalton has been charged six counts of open murder, punishable by up to life in prison.

He also faces two counts of assault with intent to commit murder and firearms offences.

Six people were killed and two were injured, including a 14-year-old girl who was left in a serious condition.

His mental health will be assessed before the trial, officials say.