During Songkran in Uthai Thani, tensions flared as “Aam Khao Phawaeng” initiated a revenge battle against rivals in front of the provincial hall. He led a group chasing and shooting, wielding knives, and throwing ping-pong ball bombs, causing loud explosions throughout the city. Citizens panicked and fled amid the chaos. Three people were injured in total. Most recently, the suspect’s father contacted police to arrange his son's surrender today following the brazen crime.
At 20:00 on 13 April 2026, police at Mueang Uthai Thani Police Station received reports of a violent brawl among youths involving shootings and stabbings during Songkran water celebrations at Suphanika Square on Sri Uthai Road, in front of the Uthai Thani provincial hall. Several people were reported injured.
Upon arrival, police found one person shot in the leg and two others stabbed in the fingers; all had already been taken to Uthai Thani Hospital. Reporters visited the hospital and met a man about 30 years old with a stitched finger wound. The injured man declined to give his name or provide any information, and relatives said they were unwilling to speak with reporters.
Interviewing a group of youths waiting for friends, they showed wounds of another injured person undergoing surgery due to a bullet that pierced one leg and exited the other. The victim's condition was reported as serious.
At Mueang Uthai Thani Police Station, several youths who came to give statements and witnessed the event described how, during the Songkran water fun, a group arrived armed with guns and opened fire, injuring friends. Then someone wielded a knife to attack another person, and ping-pong ball bombs were thrown at the injured group. They identified the main suspect as Mr. Aam, from Khao Phawaeng, who had a prior feud with the victims. Aam was accompanied by friends from Krok Phra District, Nakhon Sawan Province. After the attack, the group fled together.
Ms. A (pseudonym), who witnessed the event, told reporters that one assailant opened a pickup truck door shouting, “XXX, I can’t take it anymore.” She tried to hide after realizing the assailant had drawn a gun, then called her boyfriend to say where she was before hanging up and running to him, fearing he might be caught in the crossfire. Her boyfriend ran without clear direction, then a gunshot rang out. Startled, she took cover. Later, she learned her boyfriend had been shot in the leg. She called for an ambulance to get medical treatment, and doctors are currently operating, as the bullet passed through and injured the other leg as well.
Following the incident, police cleared the area in front of the provincial hall, using vehicles to announce the immediate end of Songkran water activities and urging people to go home. Investigators from Mueang Uthai Thani Police Station have identified the culprits and are urgently seeking to apprehend them for prosecution.
At 09:00 on 14 April 2026, reporters returned to Mueang Uthai Thani Police Station for updates. Authorities reported positive progress: the father of the main suspect who used the firearm contacted the deputy investigation chief to arrange his son's surrender to investigators today. Although the exact time remains unspecified, police are preparing to take the suspect into custody for legal proceedings.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are youths well acquainted with each other, knowing each other's nicknames and addresses. They had longstanding conflicts that escalated into this revenge attack during Songkran. Witnesses clearly identified the main culprit as “Mr. Aam from Khao Phawaeng,” who brought associates from Krok Phra District, Nakhon Sawan Province, across provincial lines to commit the crime.
Regarding safety measures, police immediately halted water play in the area and deployed investigation and patrol units to monitor the hospital where the injured are treated, fearing the rival group might attempt further violence.
This alarming incident left one person seriously injured by a bullet that pierced the leg, and two others with severe stab wounds. Authorities confirmed they would intensify efforts to capture all suspects and prosecute them fully, while closely monitoring the victims’ medical conditions.
Reporter interviews with Jaoning (pseudonym), a vendor near the scene, revealed she heard loud gunshots and saw water festival participants scatter in panic, shouting that someone had been shot. Many stopped playing and went home in fear. The incident occurred around 20:00 yesterday. Jaoning noted surprise at how quickly the suspects escaped despite heavy traffic and crowded streets filled with people enjoying Songkran festivities. She urged authorities to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators, as the violence disrupted and frightened both locals and tourists.