3 dead, tourist hit in Khao San shooting

A jealous argument on Khao San Road in Bangkok on Monday turned into a tragedy when an ex-husband apparently killed his wife, her new boyfriend and his son, and wounded a Swedish tourist.

Police said the foreign woman, identified only as a tourist in her 20s by the Swedish foreign ministry in Stockholm, was being treated in hospital but would recover.

Police identified her as Karin Matiweka, 21, and said she was shot once in the back.

She was simply passing by in Khao San, world famous as a backpackers' haven, when a Thai man began an argument with a Thai woman.

According to police, the man was Suraphan Kritsampan 44, who had come to the shop of his ex-wife, Yuphadee Laphanand, 35, who ran a clothes shop on the tourist street.

Apparently jealous, the man remonstrated with the woman, but then suddenly pulled out a weapon and began firing.

He killed the woman identified as his wife. He then turned on their son, Ponkrit, 19, and the ex-wife's boyfriend, Arkhom Surotvong, 33. Arkhom died at the scene, while Ponkrit was pronounced dead on the way to hospital.

The foreign woman was apparently hit by a stray round.

Police said Suraphan, the suspected shooter, fled the scene.