Country music singer Saengphet Saenganan was shot dead at a restaurant in Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi province on Wednesday night.
The 55-year-old luk thung artist, whose real name was Saengphet Naksuk, was hit five times in the head and body with bullets from a 9mm pistol in front of the toilet in Krue Wichien restaurant, on outbound Kanchanapisek Road, police said.
The murder was reported to police around 9.30pm.
Investigators reported that Saengphet was attending a birthday party for his friend at the restaurant. When he went to the toilet he was attacked. The killer shot him in cold blood and then fled through the back door.
There were about 50 people in the restaurant at the time.
Police thought it likely the murderer was known to Saengphet, Pol Lt Col Kriengsak Atthapong, inspector (investigations) of Bang Bua Thong police station, said.
The victim's wife, Kantrakorn Suksilapachai, 52, said her husband had no argument with anyone to her knowledge. Saengphet sewed clothes for the living, loved singing and he once produced a country song album under the name Saengphet Saenganan.