Friend Sanit Juterb yesterday reported to Tha Kham police. Sanit said he had not been involved in the shooting and was unaware of Montree's whereabouts. However, he believed Montree might have killed himself.

Montree gunned down Metropolitan Police Division 9 deputy commander Colonel Praphon Klaekosol, a man with whom his former wife had had an affair.

Montree killed Sgt-Major Banjong Katemanee and Siriporn Nutadee, sister of Nittaya, the gunman's former wife.

Sanit told police Montree had telephoned him after the killings asking him to care for his two sons.

"I believe he's committed suicide. He asked me to take his body to his Mae Ai district home town in Chiang Mai," he said.

Sanit has been unable to contact Montree since then.

There are reports Montree is alive and wishes to surrender.

Crime Suppression superintendent Colonel Warayuth Sukhawat said on Thursday a former Kanchanaburi local politician had contacted him saying he would bring Montree to police.

Police said Montree was skilled with firearms.

They said his shooting rampage had been in anger at the affair between Praphon and Nittaya.