TWO people were killed in a gunfight late Tuesday night when police tried to capture a suspected drug dealer in Guangzhou, about 150 km from Shenzhen, local police said yesterday.

    At 6:17 p.m. Tuesday, police raided a drug-cooking den in Haizhu District after receiving a tip-off, but the suspect resisted, brandishing a gun. The suspect also set the apartment on fire during his confrontation with police.

    The fire was put out around midnight and police were able to enter the building.

    The suspect was shot dead at the scene after a six-hour standoff. A police officer and a bystander were injured during the fight and were rushed to the hospital.

    The bystander later died at the hospital, but the police officer is now in stable condition, according to the municipal public security bureau.

    The case is still under investigation.

    (Xinhua)