NANNING, Jan. 4 -- A man in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was sentenced to death for killing three and injuring another 13 pupils, a local court said on Saturday.

The defendant, Wu Yechang, suffered from illnesses and loneliness, according to the ruling from Guigang City's Intermediate People's Court.

On Sept. 21, 2012, Wu bought a firewood chopper from a market in Pingnan County. He targeted pupils who were at a lunchtime school facility called Red Apple. He attacked the students, leaving three dead and 13 injured, the ruling said.

Wu was convicted of intentional homicide and given a death sentence. He also received a fine of 19,316 yuan (about 3,192 U.S.dollars).