Teen Killed in Den Chai Shooting After Online Feud
An 18‑year‑old male was shot in the back and killed while riding his motorcycle in Den Chai, Phrae province, after a dispute that began online escalated to a face‑to‑face confrontation. Police say two teenagers on a motorcycle fired three shots from behind, striking the victim once before chasing him down. Two suspects, a 17‑year‑old alleged gunman and an 18‑year‑old driver, have been arrested and a homemade pistol seized.
Police Lieutenant Theodsak Panyaisai of Den Chai Police Station said officers responded to the shooting after receiving the report. Together with Police Colonel Niwat Thatsanakorn, local police, the Den Chai Ruam Bun Rescue Association, and hospital rescue staff, they arrived at the scene. The victim, identified only as ‘A’, aged 18, had suffered a single gunshot wound to the back and was lying unconscious beside his motorcycle.
Friends of the deceased told investigators that before the attack, the victim and his companion were riding their motorcycles when two teenage males on another bike pulled alongside them. The assailants fired approximately three shots from behind, striking the victim once. The victim attempted to flee but was pursued and shot, sustaining fatal injuries.
Officers recovered spent cartridge cases near the scene as evidence. Preliminary investigation revealed that the conflict originated from online arguments on Facebook and Line, which escalated to a face‑to‑face meeting to settle the dispute. When the victim saw that the other party was armed, he tried to escape on his motorcycle, but the suspects chased him and opened fire, killing him.
Following the shooting, police arrested two suspects: a 17‑year‑old identified as ‘B’, alleged to be the gunman, and an 18‑year‑old identified as ‘C’, said to have driven the motorcycle used in the attack. A homemade Thai‑made pistol was seized as evidence.
Investigators from Den Chai Police Station are continuing legal proceedings in coordination with Phrae Province forensic officers to gather further evidence and determine the exact motive. Because some of those involved are minors, any legal action will follow the applicable juvenile justice procedures, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
