Investigation focuses on 2 trucks in killing of MP's son

The investigation is now focusing on the two vehicles, as they were found to meet the descriptions provided by witnesses. Also, the trucks and their drivers were missing, said Pol Lt-General Panu Kerdlapphol, commander of Provincial Police Region 3.

Chada Thaiseth, an Uthai Thani MP for the coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party, was on a vacation in Nakhon Ratchasima with his family when his son Farut was shot dead by gunmen in a pickup truck. Local investigators said a personal or political conflict could have been the motive of the shooting, though some sources said it could have been road rage. 

Panu said yesterday that police investigators were still waiting to hear from people who were with the victim during the shooting, but they had refused to show up even though they were members of the damaged party. 

He said the witnesses would have to produce guns used in the shootout on that day and they could be charged with carrying firearms and attempted murder, as they were involved in a gunfight. Panu said the witnesses would be summoned for questioning if they kept turning down investigators’ requests.

Chief investigator Pol Colonel Wachirawit Kritritthisak, deputy Nakhon Ratchasima police chief, said that judging from the spent cartridges found at the scene, three guns had been used in the shootout – a 9mm pistol used by an assailant, a .38-calibre pistol used by Farut and another 9mm pistol. 

Police were still unable to determine who used the third gun.