A 46-year-old married man fatally shot a 7-Eleven store manager in Nakhon Sawan province before turning the weapon on himself in what police describe as an unrequited obsession escalating into workplace violence. The incident occurred at a Ban Kaeng sub-district 7-Eleven late Friday night.
What Happened
The gunman, identified as Wasan Phetchato, entered the 7-Eleven on Moo 4, Ban Kaeng, Mueang District shortly before midnight. Surveillance footage shows him browsing the aisles for several minutes before approaching Thanyanpat (surname withheld per family request), the 34-year-old store manager who was restocking frozen food shelves.
According to witnesses who spoke with Nakhon Sawan police, the two exchanged brief words before Wasan produced a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and fired twice at close range, striking Thanyanpat in the back of the head and shoulder. He then fired a third round into his own temple. Co-workers called emergency services immediately, but both individuals were pronounced dead within the hour. Thanyanpat died at Sawankpracharuk Hospital despite resuscitation efforts.
Investigation Findings
Nakhon Sawan police revealed that Wasan had become infatuated with Thanyanpat over several months, frequently visiting the store and attempting conversations despite her consistent rejections. The victim had a boyfriend and had made her disinterest clear to colleagues and family, according to their statements.
On the night of the shooting, Wasan spent several hours drinking at a nearby restaurant before walking to the convenience store. Forensic teams recovered the 9mm pistol at the scene; ballistics testing is ongoing to confirm its registration status. Authorities are reviewing Wasan's background for any prior criminal record or history of disputes.
Police have confirmed no warning signs were observed in security footage before the shooting, making threat detection difficult. Investigators continue interviewing the victim's family, co-workers, and patrons regarding Wasan's behavior in the days preceding the incident. Officials are examining whether Thanyanpat or her employer had filed complaints or sought restraining orders, and whether the 7-Eleven franchise followed corporate safety protocols.
The case is being processed as a murder-suicide.
