Armed killer shot dead by police

Source: Xinhua  |   2009-2-1  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

POLICE in central China shot and killed a man who is believed to have murdered five people on Thursday.

Liu Fangjun, 38, is thought to have stabbed his wife, his parents-in-law, a doctor and the doctor's son to death in a village in Taojiang County, Hunan Province, said an officer with the provincial public security bureau.

Liu Fangjun had suspected his wife Liu Fenghua of having affairs with other men, said his neighbor Liu Aixun.

"The tragedy occurred about 9pm, when I heard a woman scream in Fangjun's house," said Liu Aixun. He said he saw Liu Fangjun standing in the sitting room, holding a blood-stained knife.

Villagers found the bodies of Liu's wife and parents-in-law, Liu Dihe and Wang Shulan, on the second floor of the house, and called an ambulance.

A 52-year-old doctor, Cao Fangming, saw Liu Fangjun, and shouted: "The murderer is still here. Tie him up." Liu is then believed to have killed the doctor and his son, ambulance driver Cao Lin.

Police arrived and fired warning shots, telling Liu Fangjun to put down his knife. When he refused police shot and killed him.