Chalong Riewrang Accused of Killing Nonthaburi Official in Dispute Over Money 
A former Thai local MP has been arrested after a senior government official was shot dead inside a local government office near Bangkok, in what police described as Thailand's second deadly shooting in three days.
Police identified the suspect as Chalong Riewrang, a former member of parliament, and said he was arrested following Monday's shooting at the offices of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation.
The victim, Thongchai Yenprasert, chairman of the Provincial Administrative Organisation in Nonthaburi, was critically injured after being shot and later died in hospital, according to officials.
The shooting reportedly took place at around 11am local time on Monday.
Police said Thongchai suffered serious gunshot wounds to his face and neck before being taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The official's driver was also shot in the arm during the incident and was reported to be in a stable condition.
The attack prompted a police response at the local government offices as investigators secured the scene and began examining evidence.
Thai police said the suspected motive was personal, rather than political or ideological.
According to police, Chalong told investigators that he had a disagreement with Thongchai over money he had previously lent him.
The former MP reportedly followed the official to his car before drawing his weapon.
Chalong has disputed part of the circumstances surrounding the shooting. He reportedly told reporters that he did not intend to shoot Thongchai and claimed the victim's driver also drew a gun and pointed it at him, prompting him to open fire.
Those claims will form part of the investigation and have not been independently established.
Chalong was arrested by police following the shooting and was questioned at a local police station.
His previous political position has drawn additional attention to the case, although authorities have so far characterised the suspected motive as a personal dispute.
Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances leading up to the confrontation, the weapons involved and the sequence of events inside and around the government offices.
The incident comes only days after another deadly shooting in Thailand, increasing concern over gun violence in the country.
The frequency of the incidents has placed renewed attention on firearm ownership, security and the circumstances under which disputes escalate into deadly confrontations.
Authorities are expected to provide further details as the investigation progresses.
The shooting also raises questions about security at local government facilities.
Government offices are generally regarded as public spaces, but the incident demonstrates the difficulty of preventing armed confrontations when disputes involve individuals known to one another.
Investigators will now be expected to determine how the suspect entered the premises and whether additional security measures could have prevented the attack.
Police have said the investigation remains ongoing as officers gather evidence and interview witnesses.
Authorities will also need to establish the full circumstances behind the dispute between Chalong and Thongchai.
While police have identified a suspected personal financial disagreement as the motive, the judicial process will ultimately determine the facts and any criminal responsibility.
The former MP is expected to face legal proceedings over the shooting as investigators continue building their case.
The killing has attracted significant attention because of the victim's government position, the suspect's former political role and the fact that it occurred during a period of heightened concern over deadly shootings in Thailand.
For now, authorities are focusing on establishing exactly what happened at the Nonthaburi government office and ensuring that the circumstances surrounding Thongchai Yenprasert's death are fully investigated.