Former Community Leader Fatally Shoots Local Reporter with Shotgun, Slashes Wife and Sister-in-Law with Knife; Two More Injured

On April 27, 2025, at Khleang Nakhon Police Station in Lampang Province, 63-year-old Anusorn, a former community leader, surrendered to Police Captain Phuchichaya Triyamprai, station commander, after shooting local news correspondent Chaiawut, 54, fatally in the chest at Sri Pong Chai community housing in Chomphu Subdistrict, Muang District, Lampang. The victim's wife Panadda and sister sustained knife wounds. The incident occurred on the night of April 26.

During interrogation, Anusorn stated he was watering plants at a food shop when he had a verbal altercation with the victim, who insulted him and made him angry. The victim then grabbed a knife and opened the bedroom door. Anusorn followed and fired one shotgun round at the victim's chest, then used a knife to slash at the victim's wife who was screaming and her sister who came to help. After the attack, his wife told him to flee, so he escaped on a motorcycle.

That same day, the victim's relatives and local residents invited four monks, led by Phra Kru Ampawan Santiwat, Deputy Abbot of Hang Chathat District, and Abbot of Muang Chum Temple, to perform a ritual opening of the bedroom, which still contained the victim's belongings and blood stains, to invoke the spirit of Chaiawut to return home. The atmosphere was filled with grief as relatives and family prepared merit-making dedications for the deceased.

The victim's wife recounted that before the incident, she and her husband were about to sleep when Anusorn entered shouting insults. She opened the door to ask what was wrong, but Anusorn fired one shotgun round that struck her husband in the chest, killing him instantly. Anusorn then rushed into the bedroom and slashed her with a knife, causing injuries. She called her sister for help, but her sister was also attacked by Anusorn's knife, suffering a head wound. The motive stemmed from personal disputes.