Former Thailand MP arrested after shooting leaves 1 dead, 1 injured
The incident comes just days after a teen’s killing rampage at a school reignited debate over gun control
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 shooting came less than a week after a teenager’s deadly rampage at a school in the same province reignited debate over gun control.
Chalong Riewrang shot at a senior provincial official and his driver, said Major General Dejrapee Kongdee, the police commander of Nonthaburi, which borders Bangkok.
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
Flanked by police officers following his arrest, former MP Chalong – who was in the prime minister’s party – 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, handcuff-free and smoking a cigarette.
“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 a hospital director, Sakon Sukprom.