CHANTABURI: -- A lone gunman said to have mental breakdown after his wife left him shot dead three neighbours and his mother-in-law and injured five others, including two policemen.

Police identified the man only as Jakkrit, 35.

Police said Jakkrit allegedly shot dead three neihbours while they were drinking and making a lot of noise at 8:40 pm Wednesday Chanthaburi's Soi Dao district.

The man then drove his pick-up truck to the house of his wife in another village. Soi Dao district police chief Pol Col Prakan Prachong said the man became angry after he did not find his wife there, so he shot and killed his mother-in-law and injured his father-in-law.

Prakan said Jakkrit later fled to a cane plantation and engaged in a gunfight with police at about midnight, injuring two policemen.

Police have yet to locate him.

-- The Nation 2007-09-20