Police strongly believe the gun enthusiast boyfriend of Supitcha "Gigi" Predajaroen, a 19-year-old internet idol, shot her dead before killing himself, despite still waiting for forensic results to confirm who the shooter actually was.
Their bodies were found on Wednesday in a condominium unit near the Asok-Phetchaburi intersection in Ratchathewi district. A pistol and two spent bullet cases were also found.
A close friend of the net idol reported the deaths, police said.
The friend had been unable to contact Supitcha and had gone to the condominium to check on her, police said, adding that the friend entered using a passcode and found the bodies with the lights and air-conditioning still on.
According to a source, the boyfriend was Phumphat Chaiwanitchaya, a second-year student at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School and son of Gen Somchai Chaiwanitchaya, a retired military specialist.
It was surmised in a preliminary investigation that only Supitcha and Phumphat were there when the latter shot her and then himself, national police chief, Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, said on Thursday.
No one else had entered the room around the time the two died, said Pol Gen Damrongsak, citing findings from a check on security cameras at the condominium.
As for the motive, he said, it was believed she had a turbulent relationship with her boyfriend, while the gun used was confirmed to belong to his father, the police chief said.
Supitcha's mother, Chutikan, said her daughter had broken up with Phumphat previously before getting back together with him. She said she and Phumphat's parents did not approve of the two seeing each other again and that Phumphat sometimes hit her daughter.
Although she was aware Phumphat was a gun enthusiast, she didn't know he always carried a gun, she said.