CHANGSHA -- The man accused of killing three people at a nursing home in Central China's Hunan province committed the crime after a fight with his boss over unpaid wages, police confirmed on Saturday.

The tragedy happened around 2 am on Thursday, the first day of the Chinese new year, at Aixin Nursing Home in Shuangfeng county when Luo Renchu, 64, attacked elderly residents and staff with a brick, killing three and injuring 15. Luo fled the scene after the attack.

A preliminary police investigation showed that the attack happened shortly after a quarrel between Luo and Fang Hongchun, owner of the nursing home.

Both Luo and his wife work at the home and were owed a total of 40,000 yuan ($6,525) in unpaid wages. They had been promised 10,000 yuan before the Lunar New Year. Fang only paid them 6,000 yuan, which led to a dispute on New Year's Eve.

Privately owned Aixin Nursing Home normally has more than 90 elderly residents, about 70 of whom were spending the holiday with their families.

Residents are mostly in their 70s and 80s and were easy prey in the attack.

County official Liu Pin said, the three died in hospital and among the 15 injured, all were residents except Fang's mother and younger brother.

Of the injured, mostly suffering from head injuries, six are said to be in a life-threatening condition.

All police in the county have been mobilized in the manhunt.