2 injured in Thai government office shooting, ex-MP arrested
A gunman was arrested after firing shots at a local government office on the outskirts of Thailand’s capital on Monday, officials said, just days after a teenager’s killing rampage at a school in the same province reignited debate over gun control. The suspected shooter, a former lawmaker, fired at a senior provincial official and his driver, said Major General Dejrapee Kongdee, the police…
A former Thai Member of Parliament (MP) shot and killed a senior provincial official in broad daylight over a financial dispute on Monday, before being arrested and confessing to the incident, according to police. The shooter, Chalong Riewrang, was a member of the prime minister's party and had attempted to reason with the victim, Thongchai Yenprasert, about money before opening fire when Thongchai refused to talk, according to the police commander.
Thongchai, who was the chairman of the Nonthaburi local government administration, died from his injuries, while his driver sustained a gunshot wound to the right arm but survived surgery, the hospital director said. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that only on-duty officials are legally allowed to carry firearms in public and vowed to pursue "full legal action" against Chalong.
The dispute reportedly involved several million baht and was allegedly over money borrowed by Thongchai from Chalong over several years. The incident occurred just days after a school shooting in the same province left nine people dead and over 20 wounded, reigniting debate over gun control in Thailand.
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