CHONBURI — 19 April 2026, a police officer allegedly opened fire while intoxicated on Pattaya’s Walking Street, killing a 41-year-old shop owner who tried to intervene, authorities said.
Police were alerted at 1:06 to a shooting behind a cannabis shop on the popular nightlife strip in South Pattaya, Nong Prue subdistrict. Officers and rescue workers arrived to find the victim, the shop owner, with two gunshot wounds to the torso.
He was given CPR at the scene and rushed to hospital but later died from his injuries.
Police cordoned off the area and detained the suspect at the scene. He was identified as Pol. Sub-Lt. Jirasak Srikhatthanam, 54, attached to a police station in Chonburi province. A handgun and ammunition were seized as evidence.
Witnesses said the officer appeared heavily intoxicated and began brandishing a firearm, threatening people before firing into an entertainment venue. No one was injured in that initial gunfire.
The victim reportedly attempted to calm the officer and asked him to put the weapon away, but the suspect ignored him and later shot him twice despite no apparent dispute.
Pattaya police chief Pol. Col. Anek Sarathongyu said at 9:00 that the suspect was under his command and has been charged with murder, as well as firearms offences including discharging a weapon in public and carrying a gun without valid reason. A disciplinary probe for serious misconduct has been launched, and he has been dismissed from service.
Preliminary findings suggest the officer was heavily intoxicated and became involved in a dispute with a companion while drinking. Investigators are examining the exact circumstances that led to the shooting.
CCTV footage shows the suspect arguing with a man in a white shirt before the victim, who was shirtless, stepped in to intervene, reportedly attempting to calm the situation and disarm the officer. The suspect then fired, striking the victim, who collapsed and later died.
Authorities said the suspect has been taken into custody as the investigation continues.
