SW China spree killer's gun found

One day after a man alleged to be the New Year's Eve spree killer of six was captured in southwest China's Yunnan Province, police have found the gun used by the suspect and 40 bullets.

The copy-cat 56' assault rifle used by Shao Zongqi, 38, was found near a well by a Taoist temple in Yongxing village of Tengchong county at around 7:00 p.m. Monday, after Zongqi told police where he had hidden the weapon.

Shao was apprehended in a residential house in Banqiao Village, Tengchong county at 5:10 p.m. on Monday, having been at large for four days and nights, according to a statement from the county government.

When he discovered his wife was having affairs with two men from the same village -- Shao Zongping and Shao Zonghua, Zongqi allegedly went on the rampage on Thursday afternoon. He killed Zongping, Zongping's wife and their two sons, Zonghua's father and Zonghua's wife, with the rifle. Zonghua, his son and daughter were injured in the attacks. Then he fled in a cross-country vehicle.

The suspect was the cousin of Zongping and Zonghua. The three families had no big disputes and Zongqi had no criminal record before, according to Huang Bizhong, head of the Tengchong County Public Security Bureau.

After being arrested, Zongqi confessed to the killing and said his motive was to taking revenge on the two counsins that had affairs with his wife, Huang added.

Zongqi illegally bought the assault rifle and bullets from abroad at the end of last year. He crossed the border very often when he was a truck driver, Huang told Xinhua.

He had planned to flee abroad and hidden himself in a deep mountain, but was forced back after finding strengthened policing at the border areas, said Huang, also deputy head of the Tengchong county government.

Three injured people have taken surgeries. One remained in intensive care unit and the other two were in stable conditions, said the Tengchong county government on Saturday.

The provincial government has ordered a campaign to confiscate illegal guns across the province after the cruel killing.