An assistant village chief was killed in a gun attack in Bannang Sata district late on Saturday night, police said.
A police investigation revealed the attack occurred when Waelo Wae-haji, 41, an assistant chief of Moo 5 village in tambon Khuan Bang Lang, was arriving at a village mosque to join the Maolid celebration.
A man who was mingling among villagers approached him from behind and opened fire at the back of his head, killing him on the spot.
The attacker took a 9mm pistol from the Waelo’s waist, fired another shot into the sky and fled into the dark. The incident occurred at about 11.10pm.
Police later arrived and cordoned off the area. They recovered the spent cartridge of a 9mm bullet from the spot.
An investigation was underway to find out whether the killing was related to insurgency in the region or to a personal conflict.
