Nong Bua Lamphu —
On November 27th, 2024, a shocking incident unfolded in Nong Bua Lamphu, when a gunman allegedly under the influence of drugs fatally shot three people. The armed suspect is still at large as of press time.
The victims included a father and son, with the father dying at the scene and the son succumbing to injuries at a local hospital. The third victim was a village security officer in the Si Bun Rueang District.
The names of the victims were withheld by the police.
The suspect, publicly identified only as Samart, 54, reportedly arrived on a blue motorcycle wearing a black jacket to confront the victims over allegations of theft.
His image was released by Thai police to warn the public and aid in his capture.
Investigations revealed that the suspect had used the father’s ATM card to withdraw a 10,000-baht handout in disability welfare funds. The victims had discovered the unauthorized transaction and filed a police report after unsuccessful attempts to reclaim the money.
A police-mediated meeting was scheduled, but the suspect resorted to violence, killing the three victims before fleeing.
The suspect’s son expressed shock and fear after learning of the murders. In a social media post, the suspect allegedly threatened to harm his family, prompting them to seek refuge with relatives.
Recent sightings of the suspect have been reported in Loei, where locals claim he was seen riding his motorcycle and asking for food.
Police officers from Si Bun Rueang and Loei’s Erawan District, along with provincial investigators, have launched a joint operation to capture the fugitive. Authorities are urging residents to report any sightings as they intensify the manhunt.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
