A 62-year-old man was arrested yesterday for shooting and killing three members of a village fund committee during a meeting in Muang district in what was believed to be a personal conflict, police said.
The alleged gunman, who was identified only as Pitakchai, was arrested at the provincial prosecution office after the shooting.
He was found in possession of a hand grenade and a pistol when he was arrested.
It is believed that Mr Pitakchai had turned up at the provincial prosecution office looking to confront and kill a prosecutor who was not in the office at the time.
The shooting took place at the village fund office of Ban Thung Nam Sai in Muang district as the committee members were attending a monthly meeting.
The victims were identified as village head Sethanee Senasutthipan, 48, Saengthong Boonsuwan, 63, and Chalor Putthawong, 58.
Police said they were looking into possible motives behind the shooting and one was a personal conflict between the gunman and the victims.
It was reported that they were involved in a dispute over a flea market project and a defamation lawsuit.
Mr Pitakchai filed the lawsuit and lost and was believed to harbour grudges against the three victims and the prosecutor in the case. – Bangkok Post
