ZHENGZHOU, Jan. 14 -- The High People's Court in central China's Henan Province approved on Tuesday the death penalty for a man who killed three and injured 16 others in a knife attack on a bus.

On Aug. 18, Zhou Jiangbo attacked three neighbors with a shovel following a dispute and then fled. The next day, wrongly believing two of his seriously injured neighbors had died, Zhou bought two knives and a steel bar, and planned a killing spree at public venues such as bus stations and hospitals in Anyang.

Zhou boarded a public bus in Baibi Township, Anyang County. He tried to snatch the steering wheel as the bus was running, which caused the vehicle to collide with a truck.

He then stabbed the bus driver, ticket seller and passengers, leaving three dead and four seriously injured. Twelve others sustained lesser injuries. The dead included a 10-month-old baby girl and two boys aged 10 and 18. Zhou was caught by police on Aug. 20.

Anyang Intermediate People's Court sentenced Zhou to death on Dec. 10, he did not lodge an appeal.

The death penalty must still be submitted to the Supreme People's Court for approval.