Policeman Kills Couple and Himself in Market Dispute
A quiet morning market in Muang district turned into a scene of horror when a police officer opened fire on a couple selling eggs before taking his own life. The tragedy unfolded early Saturday in the Tha Rab area, leaving three people dead and a community shaken.
The emergency police center received the first report at 5:43 a.m., alerting them that gunshots had been fired and two people had been struck. When officers arrived, they discovered the bodies of a 33-year-old man and his 31-year-old wife, both fatally shot at their egg stall. The couple were well known in the local community, as they had operated the stall in the busy market for several years.
Shortly after the grisly discovery, another gunshot rang out nearby. Following the sound, responding officers found the shooter dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was later identified as a plainclothes policeman attached to Muang Phetchaburi station. The swift chain of events ended with the deaths of all three individuals involved.
Investigators began piecing together the motive behind the killings. According to local vendors, tensions between the gunman’s wife and the slain couple had been ongoing for some time. Both parties operated egg stalls in the same market, and competition for customers often led to heated quarrels. Witnesses said that disputes had been observed repeatedly in recent weeks, and Saturday’s violence appeared to be the tragic climax of these confrontations.
Police officers at the scene described the incident as a shocking betrayal of public trust, given that the shooter was a member of the police force. While details of his mental state and precise motives remain under investigation, early reports strongly suggest the crime stemmed from personal and business-related conflict rather than any professional duty.
Authorities are now focusing on supporting the families of the deceased. The couple leaves behind a grieving community, while the policeman’s actions have raised questions about stress, accountability, and the responsibilities of law enforcement officers in personal disputes.
Local residents expressed disbelief that such a conflict could escalate to deadly violence. Many vendors said the market had always been a hub of social interaction and trade, and they never expected to see it turned into a crime scene. “We all knew they argued, but no one thought it would end like this,” one vendor remarked, still shaken from the events.
As investigators continue their work, the tragedy serves as a grim reminder of how unresolved disputes can spiral out of control. For the Muang district community, the incident has left scars that will not fade quickly. The market, once bustling with early morning trade, now stands as a silent witness to a shocking act of violence born from rivalry and resentment.
