A senior corrections officer in this northeastern Thai province shot dead his former wife and her new partner before turning the gun on himself in a violent confrontation at official prison housing on Saturday night.
Police said the incident occurred around 7.50pm at a staff residence inside Nakhon Ratchasima Central Prison in tambon Nai Muang of Muang Nakhon Ratchasima. Officers and rescue workers arrived to find one man dead and two people seriously injured.
The gunman, identified as Nattapong Kliangpiboon, the prison department’s director, was found dead outside the house with a 9mm handgun beside him. Inside, officers discovered Trakul Phanchai, the prison’s nursing director and Nattapong’s ex-wife, and Wichit Thongsing, a recently appointed prison warden who had been in a relationship with her.
Initial police investigations revealed that the three had been arguing before Nattapong opened fire on the couple. Wichit reportedly returned fire with a .38-calibre handgun, resulting in a brief shootout that left Trakul and Wichit fatally wounded. Nattapong was slightly wounded after the gunfight. He shot himself to death to escape arrest.
Paramedics tried to resuscitate Trakul and Wichit and rushed them to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, but they were later pronounced dead.
Police said jealousy was the motive. Nattapong was reportedly furious that his former wife had begun a new relationship with Wichit, a recently transferred officer at the same prison.
A nearby resident who asked to be named as Ram said he and his family were eating at a barbecue restaurant across the street when they heard multiple gunshots, causing panic among diners.