POLICE are closely tracking a gunman who shot dead another motorist on the expressway near Prachachuen toll booth at 4.50 a.m. yesterday (Dec. 23) and as the perpetrator and the victim did not know each other beforehand, it is suspected that the killing could have stemmed from road rage, PPTVHD36 and TV Channel 7 said this afternoon.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Mr. Songkran Phanphu, or Kan, 37, while his victim was identified as Mr. Anuwat Yatinaiyom, 34. The suspect had abandoned a white Toyota Vellfire MPV used in the shooting at a hotel in Nakhon Pathom before fleeing. The vehicle was brought to Pracha Chuen police station for forensic examination last night.
Police have not ruled out any other motive for the murder even though eyewitnesses said it was a road rage dispute that led to the murder because there is a prior arrest warrant for attempted murder issued in 2024 against the suspect.
Investigators have found out that after Songkran abandoned the vehicle at the Nakhon Pathom hotel he travelled in several taxis, finally catching a private cab to take him to Rayong for a fixed fare of 2,500 baht without negotiation.
This made the cabbie suspicious and furthermore Songkran also told him that he had no money, not even for the toll, but offered to either pay by QR code or stop at a convenience store to withdraw money from an ATM.
Fearing he would not be paid, the cabbie secretly took a photo of him while he was asleep.
Upon reaching Rayong, Songkran changed his mind and asked to be dropped off at another spot and once there another man driving a sedan showed up and paid the fare in cash and took him to his wife, Ms. Kanokrat’s house.
Afterwards he rented a white SUV and drove off with his wife and two sons to Trat province, which borders Cambodia.
CAPTION:
The white Toyota Vellfire MPV parked at Pracha Chuen police station with a pixelated image of the suspect inset. Photos – PPTVHD36
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