The man suspected of killing four people in Shanggao county, East China's Jiangxi province, was shot dead by police when he was found and refused to surrender on Tuesday night, according to a notice from the county publicity authority.

Kuang Yulin, a 43-year-old villager born in Jinjiang township, was suspected of killing the four, including a couple and two men, in three incidents on Monday, according to the notice published by the Shanggao publicity authority on its Sina Weibo account.

A 46-year-old shop owner, who is said to have had a dispute over money with the suspect, was shot at about 9 am Monday at a shop in a building materials market.

Subsequently, Kuang went to a textile mill and opened fire on another man, a 35-year-old, authorities said. Then he escaped the scene on a motorcycle.