Thai gym trainers are getting praise for wrestling a police officer to the ground after he shot his wife with a service weapon.
Police captain Teerapong opened fire at a fitness centre owned by his wife in Nang Rong on Wednesday. The shots killed his wife, Treeraya, 37, and wounded her 58-year-old mother.
As the officer attempted to flee, two fitness trainers caught him and detained him until police arrived.
A contractor working on the fitness centre’s top floor said he heard three gunshots and saw the trainers chase a man.
He joined in the pursuit and helped restrain the suspect, injuring her leg in the scuffle, according to local reports.
An eyewitness from across the street said she saw a man seize the elder woman by the neck and shoot her once. He then shouted, “Bam, come here” before firing twice at Treeraya.
Police said that they suspected jealousy as a factor in the shooting, though the motive was not yet established.
The suspect and his wife had been living apart for several years but remained legally married, with reports alleging that the police officer had refused to sign the divorce papers. The suspect and the victim shared two children.
The officer claimed that he killed his wife because he suspected she was having an affair with a trainer, an allegation refuted by the trainer's colleagues at the gym, Thaiger reported.
Treeraya’s aunt told Channel 8 the victim had sought a divorce due to longstanding disagreements. She said the victim claimed the officer displayed controlling behaviour and wanted Treeraya to comply with his wishes.
The officer was charged with homicide and attempted murder. The court rejected his bail request due to the severity of the charges and his status as a police officer.
Chok Chai police station chief Chawal Wongrod said the suspect was a dedicated officer with excellent discipline and was well liked by his colleagues.
“As his superior, I feel regret and sorrow for the lost potential of an officer with a promising future who made a serious mistake due to a momentary lapse in judgment,” he said.
The shooting prompted Nakhon Ratchasima province’s police chief to call for stricter oversight of police officers. “I urge supervisors, at all levels, to closely monitor their subordinates in all matters, whether work-related, personal, or financial debts,” Narongsit Phromtha said.
“They should create opportunities and openness for officers to talk and consult because sometimes officers want to seek advice but hesitate to approach. Besides workplace care, station chiefs should regularly visit officers’ residences, police flats, or housing to observe, listen to problems genuinely, and if anyone is found to be in distress or showing abnormal mental states or behaviour, they can promptly work together to resolve and provide guidance.”
