Ex-Lawmaker Held After Fatal Shooting at Thai Government Office

A former Thai lawmaker has been arrested in connection with a shooting at a government office in Nonthaburi province, just outside Bangkok, that left one person dead and another injured on Monday.

The incident took place around 11 a.m. at the offices of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organization. Police identified the suspect as Chalong Riewraeng, a former member of parliament. He was taken into custody at the scene.

Officials said the apparent target, Thongchai Yenprasert, the organization's chief executive, was shot in the face and neck and died later at a hospital. His driver was also hit in the arm and is reported to be in stable condition.

Regional police commander Wattana Yeejeen said the suspect admitted to the shooting, with the motive believed to be personal. Chalong told reporters that he had been arguing with Thongchai over money he had lent him. He claimed he followed Thongchai to his car and that the driver drew a gun first, prompting him to open fire.

"I wanted to apologize to the people of Nonthaburi," Chalong said. "I had no intention. We were friends and I thought we could talk it out, but he wouldn't talk to me."

The shooting has drawn extra attention because it occurred just days after a separate, more deadly attack in the same province. On Friday, a 14-year-old student allegedly killed at least eight people, including a 12-year-old schoolgirl and five school staff at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, as well as his two grandparents at his family home, before apparently taking his own life.

Deputy regional police commander Atthapol Anusit said Sunday that investigators had not yet determined a motive for the student's attack, though he appeared to have faced problems involving his family and school. Police examination of the boy's electronic devices found he had consumed violent content on social media and had a search history showing an interest in firearms dating back one to two years. Witnesses also told police the boy had brought a BB gun to school last year, which was confiscated by a teacher.

Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia, second only to Pakistan. A 2017 study by Small Arms Survey and GunPolicy.org estimated civilian gun ownership at about 15.1 guns per 100 people, far higher than neighboring Malaysia's rate of less than one per 100. While indiscriminate mass shootings are not common, the country has seen several high-profile shooting deaths in recent years, including a February attack at a southern Thai high school and a 2023 shooting at a major Bangkok shopping mall.