A policeman was shot to death on Friday night by two masked men robbing a supermarket in the central province of Hubei, police sources confirmed on Saturday.

　　Witnesses say two men in raincoats and masks broke into the supermarket in Honghu City with a shotgun at 8pm, when several hundred people were shopping during a weekend buying spree.

　　Mao qixin, a 58-year-old policeman on duty at the store, was shot to death and two security guards were injured.

　　No customer was hurt as a security guard helped evacuate the crowds through the emergency exit upon hearing the gun shot.

　　The robbers stopped a red Santana car on the street after robbing some cash and jewelry from the store, and injured the driver when he refused to give them the lift.

　　One of the suspected robbers was killed and the other was seriously injured when they opened fire on police. Their small vehicle was crushed by a police car in pursuit.

　　The two suspected robbers, aged 25 and 30, were both from Luoshan Town of Honghu City.

　　Local police are further investigating the case.

　　(Xinhua)