Thai woman fatally shot in front of son in financial dispute
In a chilling scene straight out of Nakhon Pathom, a man fatally shot a woman right before her 11 year old son. The tragedy didn’t stop there as the suspect then took another woman hostage before police swooped in for the arrest. His motive? He accused the victim of swindling him out of cash.
Officers from Mueang Nakhon Pathom Police Station were alerted to the fatal shooting at 6.25am yesterday, April 24. The incident occurred at a rented room in the Mueang district of Nakhon Pathom province. The 42 year old woman, identified as Walaiporn, was found dead at the doorway, still dressed in her pyjamas.
Walaiporn’s daughter told DailyNews that she lived in the rented room with her mother and 11 year old brother. The suspect knocked on the door forcefully and shouted angrily for her mother.
The gunman then fired two shots, prompting the family to flee through the back door. Unfortunately, the gunman encountered them at the rear of the house, forcing Walaiporn and her son to retreat inside.
The gunman then shot Walaiporn twice in front of her son. He then broke through the front door and fled the scene on a motorcycle.
The boy told police that he heard his mother plead with the suspect saying, “Champ, calm down. I will repay it,” before she was shot. Police initially suspected that a debt dispute was the motive behind the killing.
The 34 year old gunman, identified as Champ, returned to his accommodation after the incident and held a 42 year old female neighbour hostage. Police successfully negotiated with him to surrender, with his mother assisting in the operation.
Champ eventually surrendered at around 11am. He told police that Walaiporn had asked him for money, claiming she would lend it out and share the profits from the interest with him. Champ agreed to the proposal, but Walaiporn allegedly failed to follow through.
When Champ discovered that Walaiporn was using his money for personal purposes. He demanded repayment, but she failed to provide. In a state of desperation, he decided to commit the crime.
Police have not yet publicly confirmed the legal charges Champ will face. However, under Section 288 of the Criminal Code, he could be charged with intentional murder, which carries a possible sentence of the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment ranging from 15 to 20 years.
Latest Thailand News
