Police take gunman to reenact fatal shooting

2026-02-02 - 04:36

SONGKHLA — 29 January 2026, Police late Thursday night took a suspected gunman to reenact a fatal shooting at nine locations across Songkhla and Phatthalung provinces, before detaining four suspects, including a local administrative organisation chief executive candidate, for court remand. Police identified the alleged gunman as Thanthaphisit, 48, who was arrested under a Phatthalung Provincial Court warrant issued on 30 January. He faces charges of premeditated murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and carrying a firearm in public without permission or necessity. The suspect is accused of shooting dead Phayom Sangthong, also known as Kamnan Yong, a candidate for chief executive of the Tha Chamuang Subdistrict Administrative Organisation in Rattaphum district, Songkhla. The killing occurred on 19 December 2025. The reenactment was led by Pol. Maj. Gen. Wara Wechchaphinan, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 9, along with Pol. Col. Sakda Charoenkul, deputy commander of the Provincial Police Investigation Division in Satun, who is currently attached to Region 9. Photo of the victim’s car shows serious damage from the attack According to police, the first stop was the home of Pol. Sub-Lt. Kowit Ratchaniya, 62, a candidate for chief executive of the Koh Yor Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, in Koh Yor subdistrict, Muang Songkhla district. Investigators said Thanthaphisit arrived there after being picked up from Hat Yai International Airport, briefly checked on dogs kept in cages, and then left in a black Toyota Vios to carry out the attack. Other locations included a roadside drink shop in Pak Ror subdistrict, Singhanakhon district; an oil palm plantation in Khuan Roo subdistrict, Rattaphum district, about 500 m from the main road, where the vehicle’s licence plates were allegedly changed; and the campaign coordination centre of the “Palang Mai Phatthana Tha Chamuang” team, which the suspects reportedly circled twice. Police said the gunman later waited about 40 minutes by the roadside on Yontarakarn Kamthorn Road, opposite the group’s office, before following the victim’s vehicle. At Tha Maprang intersection, the suspect made a U-turn and began tailing Kamnan Yong. The shooting occurred on Pru On–Tha Maprang Road in Moo 1, Thung Naree subdistrict, Pa Bon district, Phatthalung. Police said Thanthaphisit, seated in the rear left passenger seat, lowered the window and fired three shotgun blasts at the victim’s vehicle while overtaking, then fled the scene. After the attack, the suspects allegedly stopped in Khok Sai subdistrict, Pa Bon district, to change licence plates again. Thanthaphisit holds prop shotgun as police confirm with him that he fired three shots During questioning, Thanthaphisit apologised to the victim’s family and said he regretted his actions. He told police he did not know who the target would be when he accepted the job and considered backing out after seeing Kamnan Yong’s campaign signs, but went through with the shooting after committing to the task. Police said investigators at Pa Bon Police Station will seek court detention of four suspects on Friday morning: Pol. Sub-Lt. Kowit, the alleged mastermind Thanthaphisit, the gunman Withawat, the driver during the attack and escape Pol. Sub-Lt. Kowit’s younger brother, who allegedly drove the suspects following the killing. All four face the same charges of premeditated murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and carrying firearms in public without authorisation.