Thai police officer allegedly shot wife & then talked into surrendering by his police officer son

A police officer in Chonburi, Thailand was arrested on Sep. 10 morning, a day after he allegedly shot his wife, a teacher, at a kindergarten school.

Thatsaphong, a deputy investigation officer at Bang Lamung Police Station, had refused to leave his home following the shooting on Sep. 9, Khaosod English reported.

The son turned back

Thatsaphong's son, Rachata, a police sergeant, was travelling to his posting in southern Thailand when he heard the news.

He never made it there.

He turned back and headed to his father's house instead, staying through the night.

From about 5am, Rachata spoke to his father by phone and through a loudspeaker for more than an hour.

He urged him to come out, told him nobody would harm him, and asked him to trust the police.

He also reminded his father that they had parted just the morning before, hours before the shooting.

30 minutes, face to face

Thatsaphong took his son's calls and spoke to him, but would not leave the house.

So Rachata asked to see him in person.

Under police supervision, both men agreed to step out and meet halfway.

What followed was a half-hour conversation, and at the end of it Thatsaphong gave himself up.

He emerged at about 6:20am, visibly exhausted.

Nobody else was hurt.

Where the weapon was

Bang Lamung police chief Sarawut Nuchanart said the officer had come out unarmed, and told police where to locate the weapon so it could be retrieved as evidence.

Nuchanart described him as worn out and still under a great deal of stress.

Police would carry out investigations in line with the usual legal process, he said.

Thatsaphong was taken to Bang Lamung Police Station for questioning.