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By Ellie Cook
Senior Defense Reporter
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A senior local official has died in a shooting on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, after the suspected shooter called a well-known media commentator who was broadcasting live on YouTube to confess to the attack.
Chalong Reawraeng, a former member of Thailand's House of Representatives, allegedly shot ex-police officer Thongchai Yenprasert on Monday, along with his driver. Chalong was arrested shortly after the phone call.
Thongchai, who was a prominent political figure in Nonthaburi province just outside of the capital, died from his injuries in hospital, officials said. His death was confirmed at roughly 3:30 p.m. local time, Thai media reported.
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This comes just days after a teenager shot his grandparents and opened fire on a school in the same province. At least nine people were killed, including the alleged shooter, shocking the country and igniting fresh debate about gun control.
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Anchalee Paireerak, a journalist and presenter, picked up a call during a YouTube livestream and appeared visibly shocked while asking whether an unspecified person died after the caller "shot him in the head," according to local reports and the BBC.
"You need to wait there for the cops," Paireerak said. "Don't go anywhere."
Footage appears to show the alleged attack taking place outside the government building in Nonthaburi. Newsweek could not independently verify this.
Officials said Chalong and Thongchai had known each other for years but that the motive behind the incident wasn't clear.
Chalong, speaking to Thai media following his arrest, said he was struggling to pay his medical bills and an argument over money had escalated when Thonchai refused to speak with him.
"I didn’t intend to do anything, because he’s a good friend of mine, but he didn’t want to talk to me," he added in remarks reported by local outlets.
Lieutenant General Wattana Yeejeen, a local police commander for the province, said Chalong had claimed the slain official had refused to pay a debt owed to the former lawmaker.
Thai media widely reported the debt as totaling $11 million baht, or roughly $330,000. Authorities did not confirm this figure.
Chalong said he had followed Thongchai to his car, and had not intended to shoot the weapon until the provincial official's driver drew out his own firearm.
"I can’t believe I’m in this position," Chalong said.
Update 8/10/2026 at 8 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Tobias Meyjes and Robert Greenall
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