Nakhon Ratchasima family dispute over dogs ends in fatal shooting

A Thai man was fatally shot by his brother-in-law following a dispute over dogs and inheritance issues. The incident occurred yesterday, August 27, in a vegetable garden in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Police were alerted at 6.40pm about a shooting in the vegetable garden of Moo 12, Khanong Phra, Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Officers from Pak Chong Police Station, led by investigator Sirisak Jantapakdee, along with rescue units and a forensic team, arrived at the scene to find the body of 57 year old Prayut lying face down in a pool of blood. He had been shot with a shotgun. His wife, 54 year old Pranom was in a state of shock.

Pranom recounted the events leading up to the shooting. She and her husband had gone to their vegetable plot, about 200 metres from their home, to harvest cabbages. Upon arrival, they found more than 10 dogs belonging to her younger brother chasing another dog of unknown ownership in the garden.

Prayut attempted to chase the dogs away. During this time, her brother’s wife approached them and accused them of letting their dogs attack hers.

“We denied that the dog was ours and said we didn’t know whose dog it was. Then, my brother rode up on his motorcycle, drew a gun from his bag, and shot my husband once, causing him to collapse.

“I fled into the cassava field and when I returned, my husband was already dead. The dispute stemmed from both the dog incident and inheritance issues.”

Officers sent Prayut’s body to the hospital for an autopsy. Later, the village head informed the police that the suspect, Montri, had surrendered himself along with the firearm used in the shooting. Montri was detained for further questioning to determine the exact motive before facing charges.

Neighbours and relatives expressed their shock and sorrow over the incident.

“We never expected it to escalate to this point. It’s heartbreaking to see such violence within a family.”

Police are now piecing together the details of the incident. They aim to understand the full context of the family feud and the specific circumstances that led to the shooting. The investigation will include statements from both families and any witnesses present during the altercation, reported KhaoSod.