Suspect in 9 slayings killed in China

A 42-year-old man suspected of killing nine people over eight years in China was shot and killed Tuesday by police in Chongqing city, state media said. China Daily quoted China Central Television that Zhou Kehua, described as "Class-A" wanted suspect, was killed in a leather factory by police early Tuesday. Zhou, described as the "most cold-blooded killer in years," was found by a plainclothes officer. At the leather factory, Zhou noticed he was being tailed and in a subsequent exchange of gunfire, the suspect was killed, while some police officers were slightly injured, the report said. An intense search for Zhou began after he was accused of shooting a police officer last Sunday, China Daily said. Last week, Zhou was accused of killing a woman outside a bank and also injuring two others, the report said. The accused, who had eluded police since 2004, was suspected in the deaths of a total of nine people. He was known to target those withdrawing money from banks. Rewards for information leading to the capture of Zhou had totaled nearly $850,000 during these years. Authorities in the southwestern city of Chongqing had even canceled vacations of police officers so they could join in the massive hunt for the suspect.