A pensioner is alleged to have taken revenge by shooting his childhood bully dead at a school reunion party, more than 50 years after the abuse.
Thanapat Anakesri, 69, was invited to the get together earlier this month to meet up with old classmates in Ang Thong, central Thailand, earlier this month.
During the reunion, the group tucked into a buffet and reminisced about their teenage years.
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However, things quickly took a sinister turn at the end of the party - Thanapat is said to have confronted his former tormentor, Suthat Kosayamat, 69, about the latter's bullying when they were both 16.
A former navy officer, Thanapat began arguing with Suthat, a tailor, who said he could not remember anything about it.
According to reports, Thanapat demanded Suthat apologise for the abuse he inflicted. However, after allegedly refusing to make amends, Suthat told his former peer to forget about it.
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The refusal to apologise led to an angry exchange between the pair, during which Thanapat is said to have drawn a gun and shot his former schoolmate.
He then fled the room, leaving the other pensioners to rush the victim to hospital. However, he was later pronounced dead.
The class of 1966 president Tuean Klakang, 69, who organised the event, told police that the alleged killer had often complained about the bully, but he didn't believe it would go this far.
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Tuean said: "Thanapat would get drunk then often talk about how angry he was about being bullied by Suthat.
"He never forgot about it. But as these things happened such a long time ago, I would never have imagined that he would have killed his friend like this. We are all shocked by it.''
Suthat was given a traditional Buddhist funeral earlier this week, with devastated friends and relatives paying tribute to the 'caring and kind' man.
Police are now searching for the alleged killer, who has fled his home and is believed to be living in a neighbouring province.
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Police Captain Sombat Somboondee said officers found a 9mm cartridge and another dummy round at the scene.
The Ang Thong Provincial Court has issued an arrest warrant for Thanapat on charges of murder.
The police chief said: "Initially, we will charge him for murder and carrying a gun without a license. We also have a lead that he is hiding in Singburi province so officers are searching the area.
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''From speaking to witnesses, the shooting appears to have happened after a personal dispute between the killer and the victim from a long time ago."
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