3 weeks ago
Thai Gunman Kills Local Official Amid School Shooting Aftermath
A man with a gun hurt a very important local leader in Thailand while the leader was at work.
The man, who used to be a lawmaker, said he was upset because of a fight about money someone borrowed.
The leader was taken to a hospital, but the doctors could not save him.
This happened just days after a 14-year-old boy shot many people at a school nearby.
Nine people died in the school shooting, including the boy, and more than twenty others were hurt.
Many people in Thailand are scared, and leaders are promising to make guns harder to get.
Schools are now checking bags and using metal detectors to keep students safe.
Thailand has a lot of civilian guns — about 15 for every 100 people, the most in Southeast Asia.
The people in charge of schools in Thailand will spend three months making new safety rules.
They want to make sure something so sad never happens again.
A gunman fatally shot the chairman of the Provincial Administrative Organization in Nonthaburi inside a local government office on Monday.
Suspected shooter Chalong Riewrang, a former lawmaker, said the killing followed a long-standing dispute over borrowed money.
The attack came days after a 14-year-old's rampage at Debsirin Nonthaburi School left nine dead and over 20 wounded.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul vowed tighter gun controls, checkpoints, and a crackdown on carrying firearms in public.
Thailand has an estimated 10.3 million civilian firearms — about 15 per 100 residents, the highest rate in Southeast Asia, per a 2017 Small Arms Survey estimate.
- Who
- Suspected shooter Chalong Riewrang, a former lawmaker, killed the chairman of the Provincial Administrative Organization in Nonthaburi; Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is leading the official response.
- What
- A local government official was fatally shot inside his office over a personal dispute about borrowed money, days after a school shooting in the same province.
- Where
- A local government office in Nonthaburi province, bordering Bangkok, Thailand; the official died at Phra Nang Klao Hospital.
- When
- On Monday, Aug. 10, days after Friday's shooting rampage.
- Why
- Police cited a disagreement over borrowed money; Chalong said he fired after the victim pulled a gun while driving away, an account police have not confirmed.
Shooter's account and self-defence argument
Police and government response
Why the shooting happened
Shooter's account and self-defence argument
Chalong said the victim refused to discuss a long-standing dispute and pulled a gun while driving away, prompting him to fire.
Police and government response
Police said the motive was a disagreement over borrowed money and provided no information on whether the official was armed.
Gun ownership and control
Shooter's account and self-defence argument
Some gun owners claim weapons are needed for self-defence; Prime Minister Anutin rejected this, saying no one has the right to carry a firearm in public.
Police and government response
The government is tightening enforcement with checkpoints and new school safety protocols, while experts note licences lack mental health screening and allow owners as young as 20.
Key facts
- Victim
- Chairman of the Provincial Administrative Organization in Nonthaburi
- Suspected shooter
- Chalong Riewrang, former lawmaker
- Reported motive
- Disagreement over borrowed money
- Location
- Local government office in Nonthaburi, bordering Bangkok
- Hospital
- Phra Nang Klao Hospital (died of wounds)
- Prior school shooting
- 9 dead and over 20 wounded at Debsirin Nonthaburi School on Friday
- Civilian firearms
- About 10.3 million, roughly 15 per 100 residents
- Government response
- Thailand's Education Ministry to develop school safety protocols within three months; crackdown on public gun carrying
Quotes
Police Lieutenant General Wattana Yijin
Police officer leading the investigation
“The motive was personal, Police Lieutenant General Wattana Yijin told reporters, adding that the provincial official’s driver was also wounded but is not in a critical state.”
theprint.in
“I fired.”
theprint.in
Sources
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