Family row ends in 3 deaths

SONGKHLA: A 39-year-old man shot and killed his wife, daughter and himself in an incident that left another daughter seriously injured in Rattaphum district of this southern province on Wednesday.

The shooting occurred about 5pm at a house in Khao Rak Kiat, in Moo 12 village of tambon Kamphaeng Phet, police said.

Police identified the man who shot his family and then himself as Prateep Sakaran.

On Wednesday afternoon, Prateep had gone to pick up his two daughters — Mona, 9, and Nada, 11 from school. They were students at Ban Kamphaengphet School. His wife, Phannee Sakaran, a 40-year-old dental assistant at Rattaphum Hospital, returned home on a motorcycle at about the same time.

A heated quarrel then broke out between Prateep and Phannee. During the argument, Prateep pulled out a 9mm pistol and fatally shot Phannee in the head. He then shot their two daughters in the head before also shooting himself in the head.

When officers arrived, Phannee and Mona were already dead, but Prateep and Nada were still alive, albeit in critical condition. Both were rushed to hospital, where Prateep later died. Nada remained in critical condition. A 9mm gun was recovered at the scene, with four bullets fired and four remaining in the magazine. Three spent cartridges were also found.

Relatives and neighbours said Prateep had a history of being arrested for alleged drug dealing, and a case was still pending in court. Out on bail, he was required to wear an electronic monitoring (EM) ankle bracelet.