NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: A retired land official has been arrested for shooting dead two raucous, boozing neighbours after their carousing disturbed his sleep, at a housing estate in Thung Song district.
The shooting at Thavorn housing estate in tambon Chamai was reported about 10.30pm on Wednesday, said Pol Col Surin Chuaykaew, duty officer at Thung Song.
Emergency responders found two bleeding men on the ground in front of a house, with empty plates and beer and liquor bottles scattered over a marble table and on the ground near them.
Pongthep Prueksa-olarn, 43, and house owner Ekkapong Suwannaphol, 41, had both been shot in the head. They were rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead shortly after.
Pakdee Singhasem, 63, whose house is Ekkapong’s, turned himself in at Thung Song police station later in the night. He handed over an 11mm pistol he said was used in the shooting.
Pol Col Sompong Thipaphakul, chief of Thung Song police, said Mr Pakdee was a former land official who had long-standing problem with Ekkapong and his noisy drinking friends.
On Wednesday night, Ekkapong and three friends were drinking heavily in front of his house and making a lot of noise.
Mr Pakdee stormed out of his house and went straight up to the four of them. He warned them to keep quiet, their loud noise was disturbing his sleep. The five men quarrelled. Mr Pakdee became even angrier, pulled out a pistol and shot Ekkapong and Pongthep in the head. The two other men fled for their lives, the police chief said.
Mr Pakdee confessed to shooting the two men. He was charged with premeditated murder and held in custody for legal action, Pol Col Sompong said.