Ex-soldier shot his wife and mother-in-law at their own wedding

Photo: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS

Late last Saturday night, police in Thailand’s Van Nam Kiao district received a report of a shooting. Upon arriving at the scene, the police discovered a gruesome sight: five people shot to death at a wedding celebration. Among the victims are the newlyweds, the bride Kanchana Pachuntuek, 44, and the groom Chaturong Suksuk, 29, a former military man and Paralympic athlete, writes the Bangkok Post.

Before officially consolidating their relationship, the couple lived together for three years. On the wedding day, scheduled for November 25, the guests noticed that the groom was unhappy with something. During the traditional gala dinner, unexpectedly for everyone, a man left the house where the party was taking place, went to his car and returned with a gun in his hand. After that, he started shooting at those around him. According to the police, Chaturong was known to be very drunk at the time.

The bride, her 62-year-old mother, her 38-year-old sister and another 50-year-old guest died in the shooting. Another person was seriously injured and taken to hospital.

After the crime, Chaturong shot himself.

Police are now trying to establish the killer’s motive. Investigators found 11 bullets at the scene. The man purchased weapons and ammunition legally last year.

Chaturong Suksuk previously served in the Thai Marines, but lost a leg in a train accident. To keep his morale high, the man joined the Thai Paralympic team and competed in the ASEAN Games held in Indonesia last year, where he won a silver medal in swimming. Chaturong was on the list of athletes scheduled to participate in the World Sports Games in early December.