Authorities are searching for the man responsible for killing one person and seriously injuring three more after firing 22 bullets at a family in Battambang province’s Samlot district.

District police chief An Sam Oeun said yesterday that his force had identified the as-yet-unamed suspect and called him in for questioning, but the man had fled before a full interrogation could be conducted. An Sam Oeun said that the suspect opened fire inside the  home in O’Samril commune’s O’Samril Leu village last Wednesday evening at about 10:00pm, while the family was enjoying a drink.

A total of 22 shots were fired at the unsuspecting group.

Hem Ham, 45, was killed instantly after being hit eight times. Yim Khorn, 29, was seriously injured, 32-year-old Yi Voeun was shot in the left thigh and 27-year-old Yi Koeun was shot in the right hand. All three are recovering in hospital.

The police chief said that revenge was believed to be the main motive of the gunman, who had been involved in an argument with the family.

“We went and conducted an investigation with the villagers who live nearby the home and we found out that this was a crime of revenge,” he said.