British police said Saturday the man they believe is the fugitive gunman they have been chasing for a week was heading to hospital after a shot was fired in the stand-off between them. The incident happened at the epicentre of a massive manhunt after police spent several hours negotiating with the suspected gunman. Television reports earlier said armed police had surrounded 37-year-old Raoul Moat, who was holding a gun to his neck. Moat is accused of shooting dead his ex-girlfriend's new partner, and seriously injuring her and a policeman in and around Newcastle, northeast England, shortly after being released from prison. He has been on the run for a week since and police have slowly been closing the net in a huge operation around the country village of Rothbury, north of Newcastle. 'Police discovered a man fitting the description of Raoul Thomas Moat at around 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) near the riverbank in the vicinity of Rothbury,' Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Mark Dennett said. 'When he was discovered he was armed. Expert negotiators were brought in to speak to him and spoke to him extensively for several hours. 'We can confirm a shot or shots have been fired and it's believed the suspect has a gunshot wound. 'No officers have been injured. 'Police can also confirm the suspect has been taken to hospital for treatment.' 