A recent demolition dispute has led to deadly fighting in Huiji area of Zhengzhou city, central China’s Henan province, on May 10, 2016, resulting in four deaths and one person severely injured.

The incident broke out when a villager named Fan Huapei slain a tow truck driver right outside of his home before killing three others later. The bloodshed ended as police force responded to the violence at the scene and gunned down Fan. It is reported that Huiji area is currently undergoing renovation and demolition.

But new twist of this incident is emerging as the news is developing. The police and the witnessing villagers apparently gave two different versions of what had happened on that day. A video footage circulating online in the evening of May 10 shows that police and SWAT team opened fire to a vehicle in the distance; while many villagers shouted and begged the police to stop. Their voices could be heard asking the police to give a chance for the suspect to surrender. However, their pleading only met with police backing them away with rifle.

In an announcement made by Zhengzhou city police station on China’s microblogging site Weibo, it says that Fan Huapei had killed three and injured one with a knife. He was then behind the wheel and drove recklessly, while yelling out threatening words. The statement said it was at this moment when Fan was shot dead after he continuously ignored the warning issued by the police.

However, reporters from Caixin went to the village and pieced together another version of the story from villagers. They said that prior to Fan was killed, he saw a tow truck driver outside of his home. Fan believed that the driver was from the demolition crew and that he was to cut off the electricity in order to evict the villagers. In a quarrel Fan killed the driver with a knife. He then went to the demolition commanding office in the region, and slain its deputy manager Chen Shan. Driving home, Fan saw two handymen for AC maintenance. He believed that these people were there to demolish his home’s AC. Another brawl started between them, and Fan killed one, injured another. Fan was then gunned down by the police who arrived at the scene. Villagers told Caixin reporters that Fan was outside of the vehicle when police zeroed in. It was impossible that Fan could drive recklessly around as the police said, the villagers to Caixin reporters. Moreover, contrary to what the police statement said, no warning was issued from the police’s side, according to the witness of the villagers.

Fan’s family members who watched the deadly scene unfolded cried to the police, ““Don’t shoot please, we can persuade him to yield.” Yet police officers barred them from communicating with Fan.

A warehouse keeper, Fan has left behind his recently hospitalized father, mother, wife, and seven-year-old daughter. Caixin reporter discovered that Fan’s seven-story house has built up a debt of 700,000 to 800,000 yuan (around $107,400 to $122,800) among his friends and relatives. The reimbursement he received from the government for demolition was far from paying off the debts.

One unnamed villager told Caixin reporter, “Our Huiji area has seen a large scale of forced demolition. They slam whoever fights back and snatch phones that they found have recording of their conduct. There are people jumping off the building and all sorts of things.”

Zhengzhou Evening News reported that Fan was drunk after having 24 bottles of beer with two of his friends at noon of May 10. Police report said that Fan’s blood alcohol concentration reached as high as 152.09 mg/dL – severely intoxicated.

Fan’s funeral, set up by his family, was held on May 11. Over a thousand villagers attended. They offered wreaths, donation, and flowers. Villagers told Caixin reporter that Fan’s family has received order from authorities to cancel the mourning ceremony.