SAMUT SAKHON: A man shot dead his wife and her parents after trying in vain to reconcile with her, and then turned the gun on himself at a house in Muang district.
The shooting at Suan Palm housing estate in tambon Khok Kham was reported to police about 9am on Tuesday, local media reported.
Police found four dead bodies with gunshot wounds at the scene.
They were identified as house owner Yerm Nutprasert, 67, wife Somporn Nutprasert, 60, their daughter Waleerat Nutprasert, 33, and Voradet Tangnawaphon, 33, who was Waleerat’s husband.
A 3-year-old girl had also suffered a gunshot wound to her left leg. She was earlier rushed to a hospital and was reported safe but shocked.
Police found a 9mm pistol, a.38 pistol and more than 20 spent cartridges scattered inside the house.
Issaraporn Nutprasert, 37, son of the slain house owners, said his brother-in-law Voradet and his sister Waleerat had family problems. They had frequently quarrelled. Waleerat broke up with him a month ago and went to stay with her parents.
Voradet had several times gone to the house and tried to persuade her to return, but she refused. He had become angry and threatening, the woman’s brother said.
On Tuesday, his mother had phoned and asked him to come to the house because Voradet was there again, shouting at his wife from out the front, Mr Issaraporn said.
However, he did not go because Voradet had often turned up there, imploring Waleerat to return to him, starting a quarrel and leaving. He never thought his brother-in-law would actually kill anybody, said Mr Issaraporn.
Thongdaeng Raseema, 52, a neighbour, told police he saw Voradet standing in front of the house calling out loudly to the woman. Ten minutes later, the man climbed over the fence and started shouting again.
When nobody answered, he kicked open the door and entered the house, Mr Thongdaeng said. About five minutes later he heard loud noises inside the house, followed by many gunshots. He had not dared to go and help, Thai media reported.
When the shooting ended he heard a girl crying. Voradet emerged from the house and went to his car, then turned and ran back into the house. Mr Thongdaeng said he then heard another, single shot.
The house then fell silent. He quickly called other neighbours to see if they could help any injured people inside.
They found the girl sobbing in fear with a bleeding wound to her leg, said Mr Thongdaeng. They rushed her to a hospital and called police.
Pol Col Pongsak Sapla-or, chief of Khok Kham police station, said the investigation was continuing.
