Groom shoots dead wife, mum-in-law and two guests then kills himself at wedding

27 November 2023 , 16:17

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The bodies of the dead were laid out in front of the wedding venue after the shooting (Image: ViralPress)

A 'drunk' Thai Paralympic athlete massacred four people at his own wedding – including his bride – then killed himself.

The wedding party was being held for Chaturong Suksuk, 29, and his 44-year-old wife Kanchana Pachunthuek. The massacre took place following an argument between the groom and his wife and resulted in him also killing his mother-in-law, his sister-in-law and a guest. Another guest was seriously injured.

Chaturong then turned the gun on himself at a house in the Wang Nam Khieo district in north-east Thailand, at around 11.25pm on Saturday. During the celebrations, guests and relatives noticed that Chaturong, a former soldier and Paralympic athlete, looked angry after a row with his bride "about insecurities over his disability".

Bride Kanchana Pachantuek was killed by her groom (ViralPress)

Chaturong Suksuk massacred four people at his own wedding (ViralPress)

The former swimmer left the venue in a fit of temper and took a 9mm pistol from his car before spraying bullets into the crowd, which killed Kanchana, her 62-year-old mother, Kingthong Klajorho, and her 38-year-old sister, Kornika Manator. Bullets hit two other guests killing one of them, Thong Nonkhunthod, 50, and seriously injuring Bamrung Chaterarat, 28.

Bodies were left strewn across the dance floor when emergency crews arrived. Chaturong, who won silver at the ASEAN Para Games in Indonesia last year, had put the gun in his own mouth and shot himself. Police said 11 bullets were recovered from the scene while video showed a number of body bags lined up on the grass and pools of blood at the venue.

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The bride's mum Kingthong Klajorho, 62, was also killed (ViralPress)

The bride's sister Kornika Manator, 38, died in the incident (ViralPress)

Guests and witnesses allegedly told local media outlets that Chaturong – who "was quite intoxicated at the time" – became enraged because he feared his new wife might leave him for other men due to his disability. A neighbour, 70, said: "I heard the loud shots and thought they were just setting off firecrackers for the party. It was only in the morning that I learned what happened. I'm devastated. I've known the couple for a long time and I was like a mother to them."

Guest Thong Nonkhunthod, 50, was killed by a stray bullet (ViralPress)

Police said Chaturong – who is said to have bought the gun and ammunition legally last year – was a former marine soldier working at the Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri. He had lost his right leg after he was run over by a train while on duty. Thai media said the couple had lived together for three years before deciding to tie the knot.

The tragedy came just days after Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin signed an order to stop issuing gun licences for a year in a bid to curb gun violence in the country. The official had vowed to tighten gun control in Thailand, which has one of the highest gun ownership and gun murder rates in Asia, following a horrific shooting spree in a Bangkok mall where a teenage gunman opened fire at shoppers in October.

Paul Donald