The two lecturers who were shot dead on the campus of the Phranakhon Rajabhat University had worked there for more than three decades, and their alleged killer, Wanchai Danaitamonut, had been their colleague for just over a decade.

Records show that Wanchai joined the university in 1978. He had earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Srinakharinwirot University, and his doctorate from Kasetsart University. At the time of the shooting on Wednesday, he had been lecturing at the university’s Graduate School.

Meanwhile, his victims, Pichai Chaisongkram and Nathapol Chumworatayee, also worked at the Graduate School and both had doctorates as well.

Pichai had been working for Phranakhon Rajabhat University for 33 years, while Nathapol for 35 years.

Meanwhile, the university’s president Pong Horadal described Wednesday’s incident as heart-wrenching and unexpected.

The bathing rites for Pichai took place at the Wat Prayurasongsawas in Bangkok yesterday, while funeral rituals will run from tomorrow until Monday. The cremation ceremony with royally granted embers will take place on Tuesday.

The funeral for Nathapol, meanwhile, is being held in his home province of Chumphon.

His elderly mother Boonmee Chumworatayee described her son as polite, nice and well-loved.

“He’s my eldest son and the solid support for the family,” Boonmee said. “I was shocked to learn that he’s now gone.”

She said she hoped police would quickly bring the culprit to justice.

Separately, Pong said the motive of the double murder remained unclear to him, but said Wanchai and Pichai had previously argued over Pichai’s doctorate degree that was submitted to the university. Pong’s inquiry with the Office of Higher Education Commission confirmed that Pichai’s degree was recognised by the office.

He said he wasn’t sure if there was any more conflicts between the killer and the victim, adding that he did not know if Nathapol was also involved in the dispute over qualification. He said the three PhD-holders had been part of the institute’s curriculum development committee.

Pong also said that the institute was sorry for what happened and offered condolences to the families, saying the deceased lecturers had been the institute’s valuable assets.

Pong said the university would provide remedial measures to the victims’ families and the shocked students. He said the university had also launched a disciplinary probe against Wanchai.

Meanwhile, grief-stricken families and students collected the bodies of Pichai and Nathapol from the Police General Hospital yesterday afternoon.

Pichai’s school director wife Surada Chaisongkhram tearfully said that her husband had told her about problems at work, though she declined to give details for fear of impact. She said she had no doubts over her husband’s death, but is ready to forgive the killer.

Nathapol’s student Sergeant Kreukyos Khampitak said he was shocked by the murders. He recalled Nathapol as a kind and helpful teacher as well as an able academic who formulated a Urban Administration and Development programme, while Wanchai, whose course he once studied, appeared to be a calm person.