Gunman sentenced to death for murder, robbery in southwest China

CHENGDU, Nov. 24 -- A gunman and army deserter was sentenced to death Tuesday in southwest China's Sichuan Province for murder and armed robbery, according to a local court ruling.

Wu Yong, 31, wounded a sentry with a gun at a satellite observatory in Yibin City in September 2003 and attacked a government guard outside the municipal government building in October the same year, a Yibin Municipal Intermediate People's Court ruling said.

Wu was also convicted of killing a man named Guo Xiaoming.

On February 23, Wu and his accomplices robbed a toll station on the Yibin-Neijiang Highway with a shotgun and choppers. They reaved about 49,000 yuan (7,174 U.S. dollars) in cash.

Wu also robbed another toll station on Nov. 11, 2008 of 16,000 yuan in cash.

All of Wu's personal property was confiscated, according to the court.

Wu, a Yibin native, joined the army in Handan City, Hebei Province in December 1999 and was absent without leave months later.

Wu was caught by police on March 28. Two members of Wu's gang, Zhang Zhishun and Wei Huasong, were caught later.