The murder suspect dubbed “Karn Vellfire” was drunk and high on drugs on the night he shot another driver to death in Bangkok before fleeing to Koh Chang, police said on Thursday.
Songkran Panpu, 37, was arrested on Wednesday evening on the island in Trat province, a day after the incident on the expressway near the Pracha Chuen toll plaza in Bang Sue district.
The incident began when two vehicles were approaching the toll booth and the suspect’s Toyota Vellfire van cut in front of a Toyota.
After the two vehicles passed through the toll booth, the Vellfire pulled alongside the car and the suspect fired three shots at the other driver, who died at the scene.
The suspect told police that he had had a drink with friends at a restaurant before driving.
He then headed to his residence in Chon Buri after dropping off three friends, taking Ngamwongwan Road to enter the expressway. He was unfamiliar with the route and was drunk, so he got into the wrong lane and had to cut in front of the victim’s car to get onto the tollway, police said.
The two drivers exchanged words afterward and Karn shot Anuwat Yatniyom, 34, who was travelling with his girlfriend.
After speeding away from the scene, the shooter changed the licence plates on the van and left it at a hotel in Nakhon Pathom. A search of the vehicle discovered many fake plates, which the suspect told police he had prepared in order to avoid having the van seized as he had not completed his instalment payments.
The suspect then hailed a taxi in Pathum Thani and went to Trat, police said.
Police said Mr Songkran admitted to committing the killing and showed police where he dumped his weapon, claiming he did not intend to take the victim’s life.
Police disputed his claim given that he had fired multiple shots. His blood test was positive for methamphetamine, which indicated that he committed the crime while intoxicated from both alcohol and drugs.
The suspect is facing charges of murder, attempted murder and a firearms offence.
The investigation into the fake license plates and his alleged link to a previous attempted murder case is continuing, police said.
