SONGKHLA: A drunken man was shot dead during an argument outside a restaurant as he tried to pick up a waitress, early on Tuesday morning.

Police were informed of the shooting at the Plaza market in Hat Yai municipality about 3am. The dead man was identified as Tong sae Pae, 38, from Hat Yai.

Pairin Nadkliang, a 39-year-old from Hat Yai, waited at the scene for police to arrive and handed over his gun.

Police said that Tong was a frequent customer at the restaurant. On Monday night he gave a 500-baht tip to the waitress and tried to follow her, even though her boyfriend was waiting to pick her up. That led to the argument and, ultimately, his death.

According to Mr Pairin, Tong was drunk and started an argument when trying to approach a waitress from a nearby restaurant he had just visited. His uncle and a friend tried to stop the fight, but Tong stabbed his uncle in the neck with a knife and slashed the friend's hand.

Mr Pairin told police that Tong and four friends were charging towards him. He fired a warning shot into the air but it did not stop them. As Tong and friends were approaching him with a knife, he shot his pistol at Tong and the others. Tong was killed and his three friends were wounded.