Former community leader surrenders after shooting journalist to death, gives statement

At 9:30 a.m. on April 27, 2569, Paitoon Potthong, mayor of Khlong Ngoen Municipality, brought 63-year-old Anusorn (surname withheld), a former community leader, to surrender to Police Lieutenant Colonel Phuchit Triyampraia, superintendent of Khlong Ngoen Police Station.

Anusorn is accused of shooting 54-year-old Chaiwut (surname withheld), a hotel restaurant employee and local journalist, who died at his bedroom door at a residence on Phaholyothin Road, Chompoo Sub-district, Muang District, Lampang Province.

The victim's 56-year-old wife, Panada (surname withheld), and her sister were attacked by Anusorn with a knife, suffering serious laceration wounds. Panada sustained cuts to her head, neck, right shoulder, arm, and hand, requiring multiple stitches and surgery on her hand bones. The sister also sustained serious head wounds.

In his initial statement, Anusorn claimed he was watering plants in front of his food shop when he had a verbal altercation with the victim, who was holding a knife and opening his bedroom door. Anusorn said he followed the victim to the bedroom door while carrying a concealed handgun. He admitted losing his temper and fired one shotgun round at the victim's chest, then grabbed the victim's knife and chased and attacked Panada, who was screaming, as well as her sister who came to help. After the incident, his wife told him to flee, so he escaped on a motorcycle. He denied drinking alcohol at the time of the incident. This afternoon, the suspect will be taken to the crime scene for a reconstruction to support his confession.