Two more shot dead in tragic family dispute linked to southern Thailand massacre

Two more people have been found shot dead linked to the tragic family dispute which led to the killing of four people by a cop with a grudge in southern Thailand. The most recent victims identified are the wife and son of the main suspect, a police officer assigned to the Khirirat Nakhom Police Station in Surat Thani. Both individuals were fatally shot in the head by a single bullet.

Police reported more information regarding the movements of the two brothers at the centre of the killing spree, 46 year old Pol. Snr. Sgt. Maj. Atthaporn Wichian, and 48 year old Thammarat Wichian.

The pair briefly stayed at the same resort where the suspect’s wife was discovered shot dead on Monday and departed on Saturday.

On Saturday afternoon, police investigators said security camera footage showed the armed brothers and an accomplice, 57 year old Manop Wang-ngan, storm a house in tambon Kapao and open fire on the victims.

The victims killed in the attack included the 60 year old house owner Thammarong Nilniyom, his 49 year old wife Nilthip Palakachen, the 56 year old former chief of Moo 13 village in tambon Tha Khanon Pornsak Phetchu, and Thammarat, one of the attackers, who was believed shot by one of the victims.

The two surviving gunmen fled in the waiting car.

On Sunday, the Surat Thani Court approved warrants for the arrest of Pol. Snr. Sgt. Maj. Atthaporn and Manop on murder charges.

Last night, Pol. Snr. Sgt. Maj. Atthaporn’s 25 year old son, Atthapol Wichian, was found dead in a car parked inside Wat Kraisorn Ketraram at Moo 4, tambon Khao Phang, in Ban Takhun district.

The body was discovered with a bullet wound to the right temple, and the hands were tied together with white cotton yarn. A spent 9mm ammunition cartridge was found inside the car. Atthapol was believed to have been shot dead about three hours earlier.

Atthapol was Pol. Snr. Sgt. Maj. Atthaporn’s son by a former wife.

Today at 9am, Khirirat Nikhom Police were informed about that a woman had been found shot dead in a room at Leelawadee Resort on rural road 4247 in tambon Tha Khanon, Khirirat Nikhom district.

The woman was identified as 34 year old Panida Nilniyom, the only daughter of Thammarong, who was killed in the Saturday attack. Panida was the wife of fugitive suspect Pol. Snr. Sgt. Maj. Atthaporn, who is wanted under a court warrant for the Saturday attack. The cause of her death was not initially reported.

Police said later on Monday that Panida was shot in the mouth with a 9mm pistol. It is not known who killed her.

Pol. Snr. Sgt. Maj. Atthaporn had arrived at the resort with Panida on Friday evening in a borrowed Suzuki car, rented a room, and was later joined by his elder brother, Thammarat, who took another room. The two men then left in a Toyota Vios and did not return, leaving the Suzuki at the resort. They are believed to have carried out the attack in the Khirirat Nikhom district on Saturday afternoon.

This morning, resort staff opened the two rooms and found Panida dead in one of the rooms.

Pol. Snr. Sgt. Maj. Atthaporn was still at large on Monday.

Provincial Police Region 8 commissioner Pol Lt Gen Surapong Thanomchit confirmed yesterday that Pol. Snr. Sgt. Maj. Atthaporn was Thammarong’s son in law. He divorced his former wife in October 2022 and married Panida, who divorced her former husband last year.

Thammarong reportedly disliked Atthaporn and tried to break up their marriage, causing bad blood between the pair.

The police investigation continues.

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