NANNING - A man who fled after killing a villager and injuring another eight on Thursday in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region was found drowned later the same day, local police confirmed.

The suspect, Ni, jumped into a river and escaped after stabbing the victims with a kitchen knife around 11 am in Changzhou Township in the city of Wuzhou, said a spokesman with Wuzhou publicity department.

The injured were taken to hospital, despite medical efforts one of them died.

A total of 350 police officers were dispatched to pursue the murderer, they found Ni's body in the river at around 9 pm.

The investigation continues.