NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: An engineer employed by the Krabi provincial administration organisation was shot dead while on his way to see a young woman in Thung Yai district of Nakhon Si Thammarat late on Wednesday night.
The murder was reported to police about 10pm.
Montri Uppala was lying dead on Thung Yai-Lam Thap Road beside his bullet-holed pickup truck when police arrived at the scene, said Pol Capt Anant Panitchakun, deputy investigation chief at Thung Yai police station.
Montri sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body. Five spent cartridges were found on the ground nearby.
A friend of the victim, Passakorn Saengmanee, owner of a petrol station in Lam Thap district of Krabi, later arrived at the scene. He told police that Montri was a civil engineer at the Krabi provincial administration organisation. They had been drinking together at his petrol station earlier in the night.
Around 9pm, Montri left the petrol station in his pickup, planning to visit a young woman in Thung Yai district of neighbouring Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Investigators said they had learned that the victim was romantically involved with the woman. On his way to see her, he was closely followed by another pickup truck.
There were armed men inside the following vehicle who opened fire on the victim as it travelled on Thung Yai-Lam Thap Road, police said. There were at least two attackers. Multiple shots were fired, and then the assailants fled.
Montri was severely wounded but did not die immediately. He managed to get out of his vehicle, probably hoping to get help from local residents, investigators said. However, he collapsed and died on the road alongside his pickup.
Pol Col Preecha Panyalert, chief of Thung Yai police, said investigators would focus on two possible motives - a love triangle and a conflict over public work projects at his office.
A police hunt had so far found no trace of the killers.