Thai groom kills self, bride, four others on wedding day

BANGKOK: A decorated Thai para-athlete murdered his bride and four other people at their wedding reception before turning his gun on himself, police said on Monday.

Chaturong Suksuk, 29, an ASEAN Para Games silver medallist, shot bride Kanchana Pachunthuek, her mother and sister at the wedding in northeastern Thailand on Saturday. “They had an argument on private matters and Chaturong walked to his car and picked up a gun before shooting,” said Matichon Wongbaokul, a police officer from northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province.

He said Chaturong shot his bride and four others before killing himself. One of the victims was a guest hit by a stray bullet. A swimmer, he won two silver medals in the 2022 ASEAN Para Games in Indonesia and Cambodia. Local media reported that he was a Thai army ranger, and had lost his right leg while on patrol on the borders.