Police in China's southern Hainan Island shot and killed a man involved in a fatal stabbing attack of three boys when he resisted arrest on Monday.

Chen Lansheng, 51, attacked the children on Sunday morning at a local store in Longbotanlou Village, Lingao County. One boy died and the other two were injured.

The stabbings were in retaliation to the boys' father, a villager who Chen suspected of giving witness against him to police.

Chen had been jailed for eight years over a robbery since 1982, police said.

Local police arrived to arrest Chen early on Monday morning after the attack. However, he pointed a hunting rifle at them despite being ordered to surrender.

The police killed Chen at around 4 a.m. They discovered a sharp knife and ammunition on the body.

The two injured boys were sent to a local hospital in the seat of Lingao County and were recovering on Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2008)