Chalee Phuditsakultham, 32, assistant to the village chief in Ban Huai Khu (Moo 8), was shot dead in his Toyota pick-up truck as he drove three members of his family to the village at around 4.30pm. They were on their way back from a shopping trip in Thoeng district.
A gunman hiding in roadside bushes fired bullets through the driver’s door, killing Chalee instantly while a stray bullet hit his daughter in the shoulder.
Local police inspected the scene immediately afterwards and took away seven used AK-47 bullets.
Wiang Kaen superintendent Pol Colonel Passakorn Napikul led a team of forensic officers to inspect the scene on Friday morning. He said their initial suspicions were that the incident was the result of a personal conflict.