Police say they shot and killed an escaped prisoner and apprehended three others in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Tuesday morning.

The four escaped on Saturday from the No. 2 Prison in Hohhot, capital of Inner Mongolia, after killing a prison guard, said a police spokesman.

They were found by police in Helin County on Tuesday. One police officer was injured during the capture.

Police began to hunt for the four, aged from 21 to 28, soon after their escape. The prison management issued an appeal through a local television station for information leading to their arrest.