PATHUM THANI – An out of work man is believed to have shot his wife and adopted son before turning the gun on himself in a fit of depression because he could not provide for his family.
About 1.30am on Monday, police received reports of shooting at a house in Muang district. At the scene they found one dead body and two people in critical condition.
All three victims were shot in the head. Police said Mrs Ampai Chuenyen, 48, died at the scene. Her husband Pradit Khaeng-Saleekit, 46, died later in a hospital, where three year-old Wisarut Chuenyen remains in a critical condition.
Pradit’s mother-in-law, Ampan Chuenyen, 75, told police she and her husband, Sombat Chuenyen, were awoken by the sound of gunshots. They went to their daughter’s room and found the bodies. She believed her son-in-law was the shooter.
She said her son-in-law had to quit his job about two months ago because he had eyesight problems. He became depressed and complained often that he was now disabled and could no longer provide for his family.
She said he was worried that people might think he was living off his wife.
Pradit’s sister-in-law Somrak Chuenyen said the family were worried about him, especially after he gave them information about his bank accounts and assets. They said they did not blame him because he was a good family man.
Police said they found a gun next to Pradit’s body and three spent bullet shells, which were collected as evidence.
Police said they would look at the autopsy results and the fingerprints on the weapon before concluding whether Pradit shot himself and his family.