Fugitive serial killer shot dead

WARNING: Edit contains graphic material

The search for a serial killer ends.

Chinese state TV broadcast this photo of Zhou Kehua, who was shot by police outside a shoe factory in southwestern China.

Implicated in various crimes since 2004, the 42-year-old was suspected of killing nine people across several provinces.

Local residents said they were happy he was no longer a threat.

(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) ANOTHER UNIDENTIFIED LOCAL RESIDENT SAYING:

"It is great news indeed. We are all very happy. We feel safe now, with him gone."

Last week, authorities said he shot and killed a woman outside this bank in Chongqing.

Thousands of police and military forces were mobilized in the manhunt.