An official in Guangdong province is suspected of committing suicide with a handgun on Sunday night.

The official, surnamed Chen, was a deputy director of the economic cooperation office of the Huizhou economic and information technology bureau.

Chen allegedly locked himself in a room at his house and when his wife forced the door open he pulled out a gun.

His wife tried to stop him but he fired a shot into the floor and then raised the weapon to his head and pulled the trigger. His daughter, who had just graduated from university, was present.

Chen was appointed as deputy director of the economic cooperation office in April and was on a probation period.

Chen, 49, joined the army in 1983 and transferred to civilian work around 2003.

The case is under investigation, Huizhou police said.