A former Thai lawmaker has been arrested after allegedly shooting a local government official dead in the southern province of Nonthaburi before calling into a YouTube livestream to tell a political commentator what had happened. Former Nonthaburi MP Chalong Reawraeng reportedly told host Anchalee Paireerak that he had shot Thongchai Yenprasert, a former police official, outside Thongchai’s office.
Thongchai, who was shot in the neck, later died in hospital. His driver was also wounded after being shot in the arm and hand. Chalong was arrested and later allowed to speak to reporters at a police station, where he attempted to explain the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
He claimed Thongchai was angry with him but did not explain the reason for the disagreement. Chalong also said he did not intend to shoot Thongchai, whom he described as a “good friend”. According to local media reports, the two men had been involved in a personal dispute.
Chalong said he had approached Thongchai because he wanted to talk to him. “He [Thongchai] then pushed me, saying ‘I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to talk,’” he said. Chalong claimed he followed Thongchai towards his vehicle before the confrontation escalated.
“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 said. Thongchai, a retired police colonel, was serving as president of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation, a local government body.
During Anchalee’s livestream, she was seen answering a phone call in the middle of her programme. Although viewers could not hear the caller, her reaction suggested she had received alarming information. “Did he die? Did he die? You shot him in the head? You need to wait there for the cops,” she said, according to footage seen by the BBC. “Don’t go anywhere.”
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. The two incidents are not believed to be connected.
The latest shooting 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 Friday’s mass shooting, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered tougher enforcement of existing gun laws, including police checkpoints and increased controls on the possession, carrying and use of firearms.