A gunman who killed two villagers and seriously wounded a six-year-old boy is being hunted by police in Central China.

Tan Bingkun is suspected of killing a man and his wife as well as opening fire on their grandson in Hengyang city, Hunan province, on Saturday night.

The 42-year-old, an aluminum store manager who has served time in prison for theft, has disappeared since the double killing, Sanxiang Metropolis Daily reported.

Police say Tan broke into the couple's home and shot the man dead in the kitchen during a dispute about a new road in the village. He then shot the boy in the head before killing the man's wife in a neighbor's house.

A special team has been set up to handle the investigation, the newspaper reported.