Fugitive Phang Nga gunman kills himself during police standoff

A 50-year-old man, suspected of fatally shooting his neighbour in Phang Nga province and fleeing, took his own life on Saturday as police surrounded his house and attempted to persuade him to surrender.

The suspect allegedly shot his 64-year-old neighbour, who was sitting in front of his house on Friday morning. The victim succumbed to his injuries in hospital. Police believe the killing may have stemmed from a land dispute.

Officers sealed off the area and searched a hill about three kilometres from the crime scene, believing the suspect had fled there.

Police later surrounded his house, after learning that he had returned to the village and asked residents for food. He then went back to his house and barricaded himself inside.

Officers enlisted the help of a friend of the suspect to try to persuade him to surrender. Instead, the man fired three shots into the air.

Moments later, police heard another gunshot from inside the house.

When the gunfire stopped, officers entered and found the suspect with a single gunshot wound to the chest. Four spent shell casings were recovered at the scene, with one live round still in the chamber.

On Friday, while the suspect was still at large, four schools in the area suspended classes as a precautionary measure over concerns he might enter the campuses.