Security guard Anucha Pathumma, 24, was shot dead by one of the assailants as he tried to intervene in the assault of 59-year-old Udom at the entrance of stadium in Bang Khen district at around 1pm on Friday. Udom sustained a head injury and was sent to Bhumibol Hospital.

Udom’s daughter Rujira Deekrajang, 33, told police that she was opening her juice stall at the stadium while her father was waiting to referee a boxing match at 4pm, when two helmeted men on a motorcycle approached them.

One of them hit her father in the head and torso with a club before guard Anucha tried to stop the attack, she said. The other assailant shot Anucha in the chest before they fled the scene, she said.

“The motive likely stems from my father’s referee duty because he would do that straightforwardly, which also makes him a target of criticism by disgruntled fans.

“My father has worked with Lumpini boxing for a long time until he became head of the technical division and he doesn’t have a conflict with anyone,” Rujira said.

Police are checking CCTV camera footage and investigators suspect a personal conflict or a work-related dispute may be the cause of the attack.