SURIN - A neighbour described as a "quiet man" was being hunted by police after a gunman opened fire at villagers giving alms to monks on Tuesday morning, killing one person and seriously wounding three others.
The attack at Ban Kraporsapuam in tambon Tha Sawang around 6.20am sent monks and alms-givers alike fleeing in fear of their lives.
Pol Capt Khachorn Raenjob, a duty-officer at Muang police station, said emergency units sent to the scene found one man lying dead on the ground in front of a house. Sainoi Puangyeesoon, 40, sustained three gunshot wounds to his body.
Three other people lay seriously wounded on the ground near him, a man and two women. One of the injured was Anuparb Puangyeesoon, son of the slain man. All were rushed to Surin Hospital.
Witnesses told police the gunman was Decha Khongchudee, 38, whose house was opposite, about 6 metres away. After the attack, he had fled on a motorcycle.
Police found five spent M16 cartridges in front of his house. An M16 rifle, a smoke bomb, a bullet-proof vest and two rifle bullet clips were found in his bedroom.
Lampueng Sakulchan, 32, told police the attack occurred while she and her neighbours were giving alms to two monks. The alleged gunman was from Surin’s Kap Choeng district, she said. He had married Thidarat Homnuan, 23, a resident of Ban Kraporsapuam.
He was a quiet man and kept to himself, Mrs Lampueng said.
Pol Capt Khachorn said Crime Suppression Division police had previously searched the suspect's house for weapons after he posted a picture of an M16 on his Facebook page. They did not find any weapons.
The alleged gunman's wife, Mrs Thidarat, said her husband showed no sign of abnormality before the shooting rampage. She was cooking at the time and had run out of the kitchen to see what was going on after she heard the gunshots. Her husband had already fled.
Local residents mill about the scene of the fatal shooting in Surin's Muang district after a neighbour opened fire at people giving alms to monks on Tuesday morning, killing one and injuring three others. (Photo by Nopparat Kingkaew)