The Ministry of Public Security Wednesday sent condolences to the families of two police officers killed in a shooting in north China's Hebei Province.
Xia Chongyuan, a senior ministry official, visited the families of Xue Yongqing and Yuan Shuai on behalf of Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun.
The officers were shot while hunting suspect Liu Shuangrui who allegedly shot dead two fellow villagers and injured three others with a shotgun on Monday midnight and Tuesday morning. He also injured two other police officers during the manhunt.
Xue's wife fell to her death from a hotel on Wednesday morning. The ministry statement said she had been distraught with grief.
The two officers who sacrificed their lives are outstanding examples of police officers who fight on the front line for national security and social stability, Xia said.
"All police officers across the country will always remember them," he said.
Xue had won several provincial and city awards for excellence and Yuan had been injured before while arresting a suspect.
Liu was trapped in his house and found dead at around 5 a.m. on Tuesday when police entered the house. The exact cause of his death is under investigation.
