Man charged with murder after partner shot in car in Ubon Ratchathani

2026-02-27 - 05:03

UBON RATCHATHANI — 26 February 2026, A 44-year-old transgender woman was shot in the head and later died after her partner allegedly opened fire inside a vehicle before driving her to hospital, police said. Pol. Lt. Col. Phayao Kruabut, an investigator at Dech Udom Police Station, said officers were notified at about 22:30 that a gunshot victim had been admitted to Somdet Phra Yupparat Det Udom Hospital. The victim, identified as Surapong Lojaroenrat, 44, had sustained a gunshot wound entering the right side of the head and exiting the left. She was in critical condition and later died. Hospital staff told police that the victim was brought in by her partner, 32, who arrived in a red SUV and parked in front of the hospital. Investigators found a single bullet hole in the left rear window of the vehicle. Inside, they discovered a brown 9 mm semi-automatic handgun with a registration number in the glove compartment and one spent 9 mm shell casing. A large amount of blood was found on the front passenger seat. The red SUV invovled in the murder, clearly showing what appears to be a bullet hole through the rear window Warayut was taken into custody for questioning. He allegedly told police that he and the victim had been in a relationship for 13 years but had recently argued frequently. On the day of the incident, he asked her to go for a drive to a secluded area near the entrance to Pak Mun Dam in Sirindhorn district, Ubon Ratchathani province. He said he stopped the car, pretended to step out to urinate, then used the handgun he was carrying to shoot her in the head. After the shooting, he drove back to his home in Dech Udom district to inform his mother before taking the victim to hospital, where police later arrested him. Police have charged Warayut with premeditated murder and carrying a firearm in a public place without reasonable cause. Authorities said the handgun was legally registered. A photo of Surapong Lojaroenrat next to her partner which she lived with for many years