Former Thai MP Shoots Dead Official in Broad Daylight Over Debt Dispute
A Thai local government official has died after being shot by a former member of parliament in a shooting incident on the northern outskirts of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. The shooting, which took place in broad daylight on Monday (10/8), was triggered by a debt dispute. The victim and the perpetrator had known each other for a long time.
The incident occurred several days after a deadly shooting at a secondary school in the same province, which raised questions about gun control in Thailand.
Chalong Riewrang, a former member of parliament who is a prominent politician in Nonthaburi Province, has been arrested by police in connection with the shooting, which took place outside the local government building. Chalong also admitted to his actions when given the opportunity to speak to reporters at the police station.
Accompanied by a number of police officers after his arrest, as reported by AFP on Monday (10/8/2026), Chalong told reporters that he had tried to speak with the victim, identified as local official Thongchai Yenprasert, to collect a debt.
“I followed him to his car and knocked on the car window, saying I wanted to talk. He said he did not want to talk, so I took out my pistol,” Chalong said.
“I did not intend to shoot, but his driver took out a pistol and pointed it at me, so I fired,” he said.
Thongchai, who served as chairman of the Nonthaburi local government administration, was pronounced dead from his injuries. The director of Phra Nang Klao Hospital, Sakon Sukprom, said that Thongchai was shot in the neck and lost a great deal of blood.
Thongchai’s driver was also shot and suffered a wound to his right arm, but underwent successful surgery.
Regional Police Commander Wattana Yeechin said that the dispute preceding the shooting involved a debt of several million baht.
A Bangkok Post report stated that Chalong said Thongchai had refused to repay 11 million baht (Rp 5.9 billion), which Chalong claimed was a debt Thongchai owed to him.
“It was a personal matter. According to his confession, the issue concerned money that the chairman (Thongchai) had borrowed from him over several years, and he had asked for the money back several times,” Wattana said in his statement.
Chalong has admitted to being the only person who fired shots in the incident. However, Wattana said that “both parties were carrying firearms”. A firearm was found inside Thongchai’s vehicle, but it was not used.
CCTV footage at the scene showed only Chalong firing his weapon at close range.
Nonthaburi Governor Chestha Mosikarat added that the perpetrator and the victim had been “friends for a long time” and that the incident likely stemmed from a misunderstanding.