BANGKOK, Thailand: A former Thai MP on Monday shot dead a local government official in broad daylight over a financial dispute before being arrested and confessing to journalists at the police station.
The attack took place outside a government building in Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, just days after a school shooting in the same region that raised questions over gun control in Thailand.
Flanked by police officers following his arrest, former MP Chalong Riewrang told reporters he had tried to talk to local official Thongchai Yenprasert about money.
“I followed him to his car and hit his car’s window, saying I want to talk. He said he will not talk, so I pulled my gun,” Chalong admitted.
“I did not aim to shoot, but his driver pulled a gun and pointed it at me so I fired.”
Thongchai, who was chairman of the Nonthaburi local government administration, later died of his wounds, according to Sakon Sukprom, director of Phra Nang Klao hospital.
He was hit in the neck and lost a lot of blood, the director said.
Thongchai’s driver was also shot, wounded in his right arm, but he successfully underwent surgery, Sakon said.
Shooting Comes Days After School Attack
Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the region, with around 10 million firearms estimated to be in circulation — roughly one for every seven inhabitants.
The incident comes just three days after a 14-year-old boy carried out a shooting spree in the same province.
The teenager killed his grandparents at home before opening fire at teachers and students at a school and then taking his own life. Seven people were killed in the attack.
Authorities said on Sunday that the teenager’s consumption of violent social media content, anxiety over his studies, family problems and conflict with friends might have contributed to the shooting.
Police said that the two incidents are not connected.
The latest shooting has nevertheless renewed concerns over gun violence in Nonthaburi, a province neighbouring Bangkok.
