Suspected Jealousy Motive: 20-Year-Old Shot Dead, Police Interrogate Suspect Who Denies Allegations

On May 6, Deputy Superintendent Nusil Timsil of Muang Trang Police Station received a report of a shooting with a severely injured victim inside a shelter in a hilly area, Village 2, Ban Pho Subdistrict, Muang District, Trang Province. Before police arrived, rescue teams from Wattana Hospital and Ban Pho Municipality rushed the victim to Trang Hospital.

Investigating officers found an off-grid shelter powered by solar panels located on a hillside with a large pool of blood. The victim, identified as Petchpunthsakdi Khamwichi, nicknamed "Leo," age 20, was shot with a homemade 12-gauge shotgun in a point-blank shooting. Approximately 10 pellet wounds scattered across his chest, shoulder, neck, and chin. Doctors attempted emergency resuscitation with chest compressions, but the victim succumbed to his injuries.

Initial investigation led police to call in Surin Chuchart, 57, the victim's stepfather, and Lamyong Teepchanthon, 55, his mother, for questioning. A suspect, a man in his 30s-40s nicknamed "Big" from the same village, was identified as acquainted with the victim. When police approached the suspect's house, he fled into the forest and hills over 200 meters before jumping off a cliff higher than 5 meters. He attempted further escape but was apprehended by officers near an earthen wall.

The suspect was taken to Muang Trang Police Station for DNA testing and gunpowder residue examination. He initially denied involvement, claiming he was indoors during the incident.

The stepfather recounted that he was washing cassava beneath the shelter when he heard a gunshot. The victim, eating upstairs, shouted that he'd been shot before falling onto the stepfather. The stepfather carried the victim down the hill to seek help, believing "Big" was responsible, though it was dark and he heard no voices before the shot.

The stepfather further explained that the suspect and his girlfriend "Fon" had regularly frequented the shelter for years and were close to the victim. Recently, Fon began spending more time there, eventually staying overnight regularly. This caused frequent arguments between the suspect and Fon. Shortly before the incident, Fon came to stay at the shelter. When the suspect learned of this, a heated argument erupted. He told Fon they were breaking up and demanded she leave the village. Days later, Fon returned to the shelter. When the suspect found out, he followed her up, leading to a confrontation where Fon attempted to stab him with a knife while the suspect drew a gun to threaten her before leaving the shelter.