NANCHANG - Police in east China's Jiangxi Province apprehended the key suspect in a fatal stabbing case that left two school children dead and another seriously injured last week.

Police caught Zhang Yangxi in Banqiao Village, Guixi City, at around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, after a tip-off Tuesday morning.

Zhang allegedly attacked the three children as they walked home from school in neighboring Luojia Village in Yiyang County, Shangrao City, on Friday morning.

An eight-year-old boy died at the scene and another child died in hospital. The other child, a six-year-old boy identified by the surname Zhang, has recovered from a coma, but remains under intensive care, according to sources at Shangrao People's Hospital.

Police had offered a reward of 50,000 yuan (8,180 US dollars) for information leading to the suspect's arrest.

The suspect has been incarcerated twice, most recently being released from prison in April. He lives with his mother and barely talks to local villagers, said Huang Guangming, an official in Luojia Village.