Police were alerted to the shooting at about 7:10am. Officers arrived to find the gunman, Phra Charuek Singphan, 47, from Kanchanaburi, hiding in his room at the temple.
He surrendered to the officers and handed over the firearm ‒ a .38-calibre revolver containing six rounds of ammunition. A subsequent search of his room uncovered an additional 14 rounds.
Inside the temple’s toilet, officers discovered the body of Phra Niwat Setkit, 36, who had sustained four gunshot wounds to his neck, right arm and chest. Four spent .38-calibre bullet casings and one unfired round were found at the scene.
According to police, preliminary investigations revealed that the fatal shooting stemmed from ongoing tensions between the two monks.
Phra Charuek told police that he had long been bullied by Phra Niwat. On the morning of the incident, when Phra Niwat entered the toilet without locking the door and began playing loud sounds on his mobile phone, Phra Charuek retrieved his firearm and shot him multiple times.
Phra Charuek then reloaded the weapon and retreated to his room, where he was later apprehended.
Police forensic teams and Phuket Provincial Police officers conducted a detailed investigation at the scene.
The suspect has been charged and is in police custody as further legal proceedings continue.