Police gunman surrenders after overnight house siege

Suspect had been holed up after shooting wife to death at Chon Buri school

CHON BURI – The policeman who shot his teacher wife to death at a kindergarten on Wednesday has surrendered after an overnight siege at his house in Bang Lamung district.

Pol Sub Lt Tasapong Thongthat was taken into custody at 6.20am on Thursday, according to the Bang Lamung police station, where he had served as a patrol officer.

Armed officers surrounded the house in the Flower Park Villa 2 housing estate for 20 hours after Tasapong shot and killed his 48-year-old wife, Pailin Thongthat, at 10.30am on Wednesday at Nong Pla Lai Municipal School in tambon Nong Pla Lai.

The gunman’s son, Sgt Rachata Thongthat, spoke to his father through a loudspeaker for several hours before Tasapong appeared outside at about 5am.

Negotiations continued under police supervision until about an hour later, when Tasapong complied and walked out to surrender to police. He appeared stressed and very exhausted, police said.

The suspect was unarmed when he was arrested. He told police where his gun was located in the house, and officers later recovered and seized the weapon as evidence.

The situation around the house had returned to normal, police said, and the suspect was taken to face further legal proceedings.