Chumphon: A retired navy officer is involved in a fatal shooting incident following a dispute over a running pickup truck, resulting in one death and one injury.
According to Thai News Agency, Chumphon City Police Station officers responded to a shooting at a rental property located on Soi Sukhaphiban 17 - Wat Khao Puk Road, Wang Phai Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chumphon Province. The scene, comprising four adjacent rental rooms, revealed a black pickup truck parked near a pool of blood. The victim, Ms. Jirawan, 54, suffered a gunshot wound to the right eye and succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.
Another victim, Mr. Suraphon, 53, sustained a gunshot wound near the collarbone. Fortunately, the bullet only grazed him, leaving him with non-life-threatening injuries. Mr. Suraphon reported that the shooter was a neighbor who frequently expressed annoyance about his habit of leaving his vehicle engine running to warm up before driving. An argument ensued, leading to the neighbor brandishing a gun and chasing him.
The shooter has been identified as Lt. Col. Sarit, 67, a retired navy officer. Following the incident, he locked himself in his room, delaying police intervention due to concerns about the firearm. After more than an hour, police discovered Lt. Col. Sarit had fled. His gray-black pickup truck, with license plate Kor Kor 1123 Udon Thani, was found at a restaurant approximately 5 kilometers from the shooting scene. Inside the vehicle, police found the .22 caliber rifle used in the attack. Authorities are actively searching for Lt. Col. Sarit to bring him to justice.