Police have arrested four members of a gang who forced a musician to swallow a gunshot at Dan Khun Thot. The shooter surrendered to police after being unable to withstand the pressure. They are under strict interrogation before being taken to reenact the crime scene at the spot where the gun was discarded in water, near a pond.
The case involves the shooting of Mr. Pichit Chaengkhunthot, 47, the drummer and leader of the well-known band “Raikaj Band,” a famous group based in Dan Khun Thot district, Nakhon Ratchasima province. He was fatally shot on the Dan Khun Thot-Theparak road near the Nong Pluang village intersection in Phanchana subdistrict, Dan Khun Thot district, in the early morning of 18 January. Police believe the perpetrators likely knew the victim well. His wife revealed that her husband had told her about conflicts with another band, who accused him of poaching their work, but he never mentioned other disputes, as previously reported.
Update as of 19 Jan 2026 GMT+7: Police Colonel Phattanakorn Sungnarat, Chief of Dan Khun Thot Police Station, revealed that the investigative team from Dan Khun Thot Police Station, together with investigators from Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police, have arrested four suspects involved in the crime. They confessed to planning to settle a dispute with the victim but denied being the shooter. The gunman who fired the fatal shot is still at large. Dan Khun Thot police have requested that Sikhiu Provincial Court issue an arrest warrant for the shooter.
At 10:30 a.m., Mr. Niran, 41, suspected to be the shooter who killed Mr. Pichit, surrendered to police after feeling pressured due to all other gang members being arrested. Authorities then brought him in for interrogation in the investigation room. He declined to disclose any information, awaiting a press conference chaired by Police Major General Narongsak Promtha, Commander of Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police, scheduled for later that afternoon.
Subsequently, investigative teams from Sikhiu Police Station and Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police brought Mr. Niran, the shooter, along with four other accomplices: Mr. Chai, who drove a six-wheel truck to block the victim’s vehicle; Mr. Thirawat, who drove a ten-wheel truck behind the victim’s car; Mr. Sinchai, who drove a black sedan to block the front; and another suspect who shone a flashlight to assist Mr. Niran in shooting. One accomplice, Mr. Nattawut Yamlamun, who was riding in the six-wheel truck, remains at large.
Initially, all suspects confessed to conspiring to murder Mr. Pichit, with Mr. Niran as leader. They used a black sedan to cut in front of the victim, followed by a six-wheel truck blocking him, and a ten-wheel truck behind. Mr. Niran then exited the vehicle and fired an 11-gauge shotgun into the victim’s mouth. The motive was a dispute over music gig opportunities at various restaurants. On the night of the incident, Mr. Niran and friends provoked and teased Mr. Pichit while he was performing at a restaurant, leading to an argument that was broken up by band members. Mr. Pichit later messaged his son, informing him of the trouble with Mr. Niran and his friends and asked for a gun to carry for protection, fearing further attacks. Around 2 a.m., Mr. Niran and his accomplices shot Mr. Pichit fatally as he was returning home.
At approximately noon, the Dan Khun Thot investigation team took the shooter to reenact the crime scene near the pond where the gun was discarded. They then immediately returned him to the police station.
Meanwhile, the victim’s son and relatives traveled to Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital to retrieve Mr. Pichit’s body for funeral rites at Ban Don Wang Bua Temple, Phanchana subdistrict, Dan Khun Thot district. The water-pouring ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m., followed by the Buddhist funeral chanting at 6 p.m.