Deputy National Police Chief and Police Lieutenant General Nopphasin announced the arrest of former Marine Captain Wirot, the gunman who attempted to kill MP Kamonsak. He admitted to the shooting but has not disclosed the person who hired him. Plans are to transfer him back to Narathiwat for further investigation and case development.
The case involves assailants using a white Toyota four-door pickup truck, registration unknown, belonging to the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) of Narathiwat Province. They used an M16 firearm to shoot at the vehicle of Mr. Kamonsak Liwamo, MP for Narathiwat District 5 from the Prachachart Party, in front of his residence in Village No. 9, Phetkasem Road, Ba Cho Subdistrict, Ba Cho District, Narathiwat, on 20 March 2026. The driver, Mr. Uchalum Kole, and police escort Sergeant Major Harirak Hemmina were seriously injured. Subsequently, the Narathiwat Provincial Court issued warrants for five suspects; four have been arrested, with the latest arrest being former Marine Captain Wirot Ketumanee, the fifth suspect, as previously reported.
At 02:37 on 23 April 2026, at the Metropolitan Police Bureau Investigation Division, Police General Samran Nualma, Deputy National Police Chief, along with Police Lieutenant General Nopphasin Phulsawat, Commander attached to the Office of the National Police Chief, serving at the Metropolitan Police Bureau, and Police Major General Chotiwat Luangwilai, Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau Investigation Division, with other metropolitan police officers, held a press conference.
They took into custody former Marine Captain Wirot Ketumanee, the gunman, wanted under the Narathiwat Provincial Court warrant no. 205/2569 dated 2 April 2026, on five charges: conspiracy to murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition that cannot be licensed, carrying firearms into towns, villages, and public roads without permission and without urgent necessity fitting the circumstances, shooting firearms using explosives without cause in towns or villages, and premeditated attempted murder.
He was arrested near the Mon Bridge close to the border crossing to the neighboring country, Village No. 9, Nong Lu Subdistrict, Sangkhla Buri District, Kanchanaburi Province, and was taken into custody before he could flee to the neighboring country.
Deputy National Police Chief Samran said the Prime Minister ordered an expedited pursuit of the perpetrators immediately after the incident on 19-20 March 2026. Following the incident, authorities arrested Mr. Somporn Langdet, the first suspect, who coordinated with the group and acted as an informant. They also summoned Somporn’s son for questioning. Then, they apprehended Mr. Alawi Awa, the driver of the attack vehicle, in Bangkok, followed by Mr. Suntorn Prompakdee, the garage owner. Subsequently, they caught Mr. Thanaphat Watthanaphinyo, the shooter, in Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province. All four suspects provided useful information.
On 22 April, they arrested former Marine Captain Wirot Ketumanee, the last gunman suspect in the group. The five suspects had divided roles from driving, scouting, shooting (two gunmen), to dismantling the vehicle. The police have assigned the Commander of the Provincial Police Region 9 to continue expanding the investigation into other involved parties.
During interrogation, Wirot confessed to shooting. While holding the rank of Lieutenant Commander, he worked abroad for the United Nations for 16 years. After returning to Thailand, he was unemployed and stayed at Mr. Somporn’s house, who supported his expenses. Whether he took assignments from Somporn is under investigation. Regarding borrowing the ISOC vehicle, Wirot initially admitted to borrowing it before the incident, but details are still being investigated. Other suspects also confessed but their statements conflict. As for identifying the mastermind, suspects continue to shift blame among themselves.
When asked about the focus of the investigation, Police General Samran said the main case file is handled by Provincial Police Region 9 and the Narathiwat Provincial Police Chief. The Metropolitan Police Bureau's role is to pursue and arrest the suspects.
Deputy National Police Chief Samran added that the investigation into the mastermind remains inconclusive. The National Police Chief, Prime Minister, and senior commanders have emphasized that if evidence points to anyone, full action will be taken. Victims include police officers; although the target was the Member of Parliament, others were injured. The process must be impartial, accurate, and fair. The facts will be assessed based on evidence and testimonies.
Police Lieutenant General Nopphasin said after receiving orders to track Wirot, they learned he fled Narathiwat, the crime scene, to Trang Province. They continued tracking from his original home in Rayong and his wife's residence in Bangkok. He then fled from Trang to Phang Nga and Ratchaburi before arriving in Kanchanaburi. Wirot stayed one night at a short-stay hotel, then at a resort, before fleeing to Sangkhla Buri District. Witnesses were questioned to locate him. Authorities found he intended to cross the Thai-Myanmar border. Police Region 7, Metropolitan Police, Kanchanaburi Police, 9th Infantry Division, and Task Force Lat Ya coordinated with the neighboring country’s authorities due to the military zone and border area before his capture.
Initially, the suspect will be handed over tomorrow to the Narathiwat Police Station at the crime scene. Regarding Wirot’s background, he was previously arrested for illegal firearms in Kanchanaburi Province.