A man who allegedly shot dead six people and wounded three others in a village in southwest China's Yunnan Province was detained on Wednesday afternoon, local police said Thursday.

Shao Zongqi, a 38-year-old man from the village of Qingkou, Tengchong County, is suspected of carrying out the fatal shooting with a rifle before he escaped on Jan. 30, the eve of the Spring Festival, said Huang Bizhong, chief of the county's public security bureau.

Police captured him on Feb. 3 and later found the rifle and the remaining 40 bullets.

In China, civilians are forbidden to possess guns, and according to Huang, Shao had bought the weapon abroad illegally.

An initial investigation found Shao committed the murders after he discovered his wife's extramarital affairs.

His wife, who is believed to have known about Shao's intent to seek revenge and to have seen the rifle earlier, was also detained for the crime of shielding.

Further investigation is under way.