A man and his wife who were allegedly involved in the shooting deaths of three neighbours over a parking argument in Bangkok on Monday have turned themselves in to police.
Thossaporn Pitakwattanon, a 34-year-old Bangkok resident, and his wife, whose name was withheld, appeared at Pak Kret station in Nonthaburi province on Tuesday night.
Police had earlier set out in search of him, and contacted his relatives asking him to give himself up.
Mr Thossaporn was brought before the media at Metropolitan Police Division 4 in Kannayao district. He was later escorted by more than 30 officers to the crime scene for a reenactment Wednesday.
He was charged with premeditated murder, carrying a gun in a public place and possessing an unlicensed firearm.
Mr Thossaporn allegedly killed his neighbours over a long-running parking dispute in Soi Suan Sayam 15 of Suan Sayam Road in front of a three-story shophouse selling liquor and groceries in Kannayao district on Monday about 7.30pm.
The victims were identified as shop owner Siriluck Sae Hor, 46; her Cambodian migrant worker, identified only as Phat; and Muloh or Bangdam Bin-umad, 45, another neighbour.
The shooting occurred after Mr Thossaporn had a heated argument with his neighbour, Siriluck, living next door, over a parking space.
Muloh, a barber living nearby, tried to intervene. Mr Thossaporn allegedly pulled out a gun and fired at Siriluck and her employee.
Muloh fled into his shop, but Mr Thossaporn followed him and allegedly shot him through the ribs. Police said the suspect then fired another bullet at Siriluck.
Mr Thossaporn's wife drove her husband away from the scene.
Police said Mr Thossaporn admitted he had been arguing with Siriluck over parking in the past two years, and he "lost control of himself" and decided to shoot the victims after their heated argument.
The quarrel occurred after Phat opened the shop's front door, hitting Mr Thossaporn's car.
Mr Thossaporn and his wife decided to talk to Siriluck but while they were about to return to his house, Siriluck threw an empty bottle at his wife.
This action led to the shooting, police said.
Mr Thossaporn, however, said he did not intend to kill them as he just wanted to threaten the victims at the time.
He also apologised to the victims' families, adding if he could turn back time, he would do so.
Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahathaworn, the acting chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, would not give further details as to whether the suspect's wife will be charged, insisting authorities have to look into the case before establishing the wife's involvement in the murder.
Phat's mother, Longsipao, 48, said she was pleased with the police investigation.
Longsipao said her son was a family breadwinner, adding she also witnessed her son begging for his life but Mr Thossaporn did not listen to him.