Neighbor Arrested for Shooting Youth Recording Product Review Video; Prior Dispute Over Live Stream Audio Reported

On May 12, 2025, special operations police from Chiang Rai Provincial Police conducted a manhunt for Jeeraphong, nicknamed "Pongsa," age 44, the suspect accused of shooting Sivakorn, nicknamed "Pon," age 24, with a firearm. The victim was injured in the right arm inside a residential building in Baan Thoung Charoen Village, Tambon Plong, Thoeng District, Chiang Rai Province. The incident occurred on the evening of May 11.

Police located the suspect hiding in a rubber plantation approximately 10 kilometers from the village and arrested him, later conducting a search of his residence for evidence. Phuppisut, age 22, a friend of the victim who witnessed the shooting, revealed that around 5:11 p.m., he and Sivakorn were filming a product review video for online distribution when suddenly a gunshot rang out. He saw Sivakorn collapse with severe bleeding from his arm and immediately rushed him to Thoeng Hospital by motorcycle. He stated that the suspect had previously expressed dissatisfaction about noise from their activities, but they had always tried to avoid confrontation.

Thanawat Termsuk, age 45, the victim's uncle, said he heard a gunshot while sitting in the kitchen. Running outside, he found his nephew lying on the ground near a vehicle. He noted that residents were well aware of the suspect's troublesome behavior, characterized by frequent outbursts, quarreling with neighbors, and sometimes throwing branches and zinc sheets at others' houses.

The suspect, Jeeraphong, vehemently denied the accusations, claiming he was tapping rubber on a hillside at the time and heard nothing. He insisted he had no conflicts with neighbors. However, during a search of the property, police discovered parts of a homemade long-barreled gas gun and a shoulder strap hidden behind a chicken coop near the suspect's house, appearing to have been recently concealed.

Nuan Obom, headman of Thoung Charoen Village, revealed that Jeeraphong had been removed from village membership over eight years ago due to drug-related behavior. He had moved away to work in another province and recently returned about six to seven months ago. Since his return, he has caused continuous trouble for villagers, challenging authorities, firing shots into the air, and cursing neighbors. Residents regard him as a dangerous individual in the community.

Sivakorn, still hospitalized, said via video call that initially after being shot he felt no pain but experienced intense heat in his chest area before seeing heavy bleeding. He confirmed that the suspect had previously shouted insults across the fence and thrown rocks at his house multiple times. He urged authorities to prosecute the case fully, as residents would feel unsafe if the suspect continued living in the area.

Police have preliminarily prepared charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm, with the suspect to be prosecuted according to law.