Suspect in Henan arsenal slaying shot dead by Chinese police

BEIJING, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- The suspect in a weekend armed murder in Henan Province was shot dead by Chinese police on Tuesday afternoon after a manhunt involving more than 100 officers.

The suspect, identified by the police as Zhang Hongbin, allegedly shot his colleague -- surnamed Shi -- after they quarreled while playing chess during their night shift on Dec. 2.

Zhang and Shi both worked at the armed forces arsenal of Baofeng County, Pingdingshan City, Henan Province.

Zhang then fled with a submachine gun and 80 bullets, according to the police.

He fled to Shihuiyao Village, one kilometer from the arsenal, and hid in the house of a villager surnamed Guo, the Chutian Metropolis Daily reported.

Over 100 armed police were sent to encircle the house, and they shot Zhang dead after he resisted arrest and opened fire on the police, the newspaper said.

On Monday, police issued a warrant for the arrest of Zhang and ordered authorities in Henan Province and neighboring provinces, including Hubei and Hebei, to launch an emergency search for the suspect.