A former Thai lawmaker allegedly shot dead a local government official near Bangkok before calling a political commentator who was livestreaming on YouTube to tell her what he had done.
Former Nonthaburi MP Chalong Reawraeng reportedly told host Anchalee Paireerak that he had shot Thongchai Yenprasert, a retired police colonel and president of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO), outside his office on the northern outskirts of the capital.
Thongchai was shot in the neck and later died in hospital. His driver was also injured after being shot in the arm and hand.
Chalong was arrested following the incident but was later allowed to speak to the media at a police station. While smoking a cigarette, he gave a detailed account of the shooting during a press conference lasting more than six minutes.
Police said they had granted the unusual request so that Chalong could apologise to the victim’s family. However, once in front of the microphones, he proceeded to explain his version of events.
Chalong claimed Thongchai had been angry with him but did not explain the reason behind the dispute. He also described the victim as a “good friend” and insisted that he had not intended to shoot him.
According to Chalong, he had approached Thongchai because he wanted to talk. Local media reported that the two men had been involved in a personal dispute.
Chalong claimed Thongchai pushed him away and said he did not want to speak with him. He said he then followed Thongchai towards his vehicle.
“When I pulled the gun out, I didn’t intend to shoot him. But then [Thongchai’s driver] pulled his gun out and pointed it at me, so I fired,” he told reporters.
Earlier, Chalong had called political commentator Anchalee while she was conducting a YouTube livestream. During the programme, she was seen answering a phone call before suddenly appearing shocked by what she heard.
“Did he die? Did he die? You shot him in the head? You need to wait there for the cops,” she was heard saying in the livestream, according to footage reviewed by the BBC.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul later criticised the way Chalong had been treated by police, saying it was unacceptable for a murder suspect to appear at a press conference without handcuffs and behave as though the situation was normal.
“No matter who he is, he is now a murderer,” Anutin said, adding that authorities would pursue full legal action against him.
The Nonthaburi provincial governor denied that Chalong had received any special treatment, explaining that he had been allowed to smoke because he was under severe stress and his hands were shaking.
The shooting occurred just three days after a 14-year-old boy killed eight people at his home and school before taking his own life in Thailand’s worst mass shooting since 2022. Authorities said the two incidents were unrelated.
The latest case is expected to intensify debate over gun control in Thailand, which has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia.
Following the school shooting, Anutin ordered stricter enforcement of firearm laws, including police checkpoints and tighter controls over the possession, carrying and use of guns.
