Former Thai MP allegedly kills official and confesses on YouTube

What the report says

Former Thai lawmaker Chalong Reawraeng is accused of fatally shooting a local official in Nonthaburi province and then phoning into a YouTube livestream to say what had happened, according to BBC World News. The broadcaster reported that Chalong told political commentator Anchalee Paireerak that he had shot Thongchai Yenprasert, a retired police colonel who was serving as president of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation, a local government body.

BBC World News said Thongchai was hit in the neck and later died in hospital. His driver was also wounded in the arm and hand. Chalong was arrested and later gave a press conference at a police station, where he said Thongchai had been angry with him and described him as a good friend, while saying he did not intend to shoot him. He also said the two had been involved in a personal dispute, although he did not fully explain the motive.

The incident has drawn attention because of the unusual way the alleged confession unfolded on a livestream and because it comes amid renewed debate over firearms in Thailand. BBC World News noted that the country has one of the highest gun ownership rates in South East Asia and that authorities had recently ordered tighter enforcement of gun laws after another deadly shooting days earlier. The broadcaster reported that the two attacks were not connected.