Woman and son shot, killed at teahouse

PATTANI: The wife of a local contractor and her son were shot dead in full view of customers at a teahouse in Thung Yang Daeng district yesterday.

They were slain by gunmen who arrived on motorcycles at the roadside shop in Ban Phithaen around 8.30am, said Pol Lt Col Naris Kajae, deputy chief at Thung Yang Daeng station.

Arom Chomphet, 46, of Yala, and her son Kawin Chawitsakun, 27, were shot by two of four men who arrived on two motorcycles. The pillion riders opened fire in front of residents at the shop.

Arom died on the spot. Her son was badly wounded and later pronounced dead at the hospital. Police found spent 9mm bullet cartridges scattered on the road. They were examining footage from surveillance cameras in the area and along the escape route.

It was not known if the murders were motivated by a personal conflict or the ongoing southern unrest. The slain woman and her husband Prasong Chomphet, a contractor, sell marble from their business in Yala province.

The shooting occurred shortly after the woman and her son sent workers to do a job at a nearby mosque and dropped by at the teahouse for a meal, police said. The son was sitting at a table while his mother went to get food when the gunmen approached and began shooting them, police said.

Witnesses said the attackers were dressed in clothes resembling state security officials.