YANGON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A 40-year-old woman has been killed in a shooting incident in Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city in the north, Myanmar News Agency reported Tuesday.

A gunman riding a motorbike tried to rob a handbag from the women, Ma Huo Lao Peng, who was also traveling on another motorbike with her spouse in Chanmyathazi township on Monday.

According to the witness, the gunman fired three shots on the couple hitting the woman in her head who died on the spot, while her husband U Li Swam was hit on his left chest and was hospitalized with a critical condition.

Local people and the police ran after the gunman and seized him with a motorbike, a pistol with 22 bullets, two cartridges and one shell.

The suspect was identified as Khun Kaw Lar of Kyauktalongyi township, south of Shan state.

The motive behind the attack is under investigation, police said, adding that a criminal case has been opened against the gunman.?