By Rashitha A. Hamid

KAJANG, MALAYSIA: A man believe to be the member of a gun-running syndicate was shot dead after he rammed into a police vehicle in Taman Bukit Belimbing in Balakong near here on Sunday night.

The 48-year-old was driving a Kia Optima when a team of policemen spotted him about 1km away from the scene of the shootout in the 7.30pm incident.

Selangor CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Hasnan Hassan said the man refused to heed policemen's instructions to stop, and a high speed chase ensued.

He said the man rammed into the police vehicle and then fired a shot, forcing police to return fire.

Police fired eight shots, four of which hit the suspect, before the suspect's car crashed into a tree. He died on the spot.

"Police seized a .38 Smith and Wesson from the car," SAC II Hasnan said, adding that initial investigation indicated that the man might have been active in a gun-running syndicate, is on the wanted list and has priors in theft and robbery.

Police are looking for more syndicate members who they said are responsible for distributing firearms in the Klang Valley.