Uncle Shoots Drug-Crazed Nephew Dead in Chumphon
A methamphetamine‑fueled man attacked his uncle‑in‑law with an iron rod after injuring a worker. The uncle‑in‑law fired a .22 caliber rifle, hitting the attacker twice and killing him. Police say the shooter acted in self‑defense and stayed at the scene to surrender.
Investigators reported that Mr. Phairach had been using methamphetamine, which caused hallucinations and violent outbursts. Earlier that day he struck a worker, Mr. Somrak, 43, with a 10‑inch iron rod, knocking him to the ground. After being warned by his aunt, Mrs. Preeda, Mr. Somrak went to the house and found Mr. Phairach raving; the attacker then lunged at him with the rod, causing a severe head wound. Mrs. Preeda tried to intervene and heard two gunshots. Mr. Phairach then broke free, grabbed a weapon and charged toward Mrs. Preeda and Mr. Prateep. Mr. Prateep raised his .22 rifle and fired a third shot, striking the attacker in the chest and killing him instantly.
Mrs. Janya‑porn, the victim’s wife, said her husband had been heavily using drugs for months, often threatening to burn the house and assault family members, including her father, forcing them to flee. In the six months prior to the incident, his aggression worsened and he bore a grudge against Mr. Prateep, who had tried to evict him from the property fearing further harm.
Before the shooting, Mrs. Janya‑porn recounted that her husband had taken an iron rod to attack her father again, but the father defended himself. The husband then rode his motorcycle to her home, but she locked the door and refused to let him in. He then drove to Mr. Prateep’s residence, where the confrontation escalated, resulting in the shooting.
Mr. Prateep told police he had alerted the village head earlier that afternoon about his nephew‑in‑law’s drug‑induced madness and requested police assistance, but the attacker fled before officers arrived. Later that evening, the attacker returned on his motorcycle, shouting and brandishing a weapon, intent on harming him. After his worker was assaulted, Mr. Prateep warned his wife to call for help, but when the worker arrived the attacker turned on him with the iron rod, felling him. The attacker then lunged at Mr. Prateep, prompting the uncle‑in‑law to fire in self‑defense. He remained at the scene and waited to surrender.
