Thai police officer arrested after allegedly shooting wife and mother-in-law

A Thai police officer who tried to flee after allegedly shooting his wife and her mother with his service weapon outside a gym was chased down and detained by two fitness trainers.

Responding to reports of gunshots, officers from Nang Rong Police Station arrived at the two-storey fitness centre owned by the shooter’s wife behind Sra Ya Ma Market in Buriram province on Wednesday afternoon, according to the ThaiRath newspaper.

They found the 37-year-old gym owner lying in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound to her head. Rescuers started CPR and rushed Triraya, also known as Bam, to hospital, but she was pronounced dead.

Her mother, 58-year-old Mantana, had also been shot in her right shoulder. She was in stable condition.

The suspect, later identified as Theeraphong, tried to escape but was wrestled to the ground by the two trainers.

A woman living across the street told the Thai newspaper that she saw a man with a shaved head grabbing Mantana by the neck and shooting her once. He then called out “Bam, come here”, and when Triraya turned around, he shot her twice.