Chanthaburi — A gunfight broke out between a durian orchard owner and a harvesting team, leaving one dead and three injured. Workers and staff fled in panic. The dispute involved arguments over fallen durians mixed with the picked fruit and damage caused by delayed harvesting.
At 08:50 on 6 June 2026, police from Thung Bencha Police Station, Tha Mai District, Chanthaburi, were notified of a shooting at a durian orchard in Village 7, Thung Bencha Subdistrict, Tha Mai District, Chanthaburi. Later, Pol. Col. Monthon Sangwai, Chief of Thung Bencha Police, Pol. Lt. Tin Doran Homjan, patrol chief, and Pol. Lt. Amnat Runnoom, investigator, led officers to the scene.
At the scene, near a house converted into a greenhouse on the orchard, forensic officers from the Crime Scene Investigation Division found bloodstains scattered on the concrete floor inside the greenhouse. They also found 14 bullet casings from two firearms: five from 11 mm guns and nine from 9 mm guns, plus one bullet head. Officers marked the locations of the casings for detailed forensic examination.
Preliminary findings showed four injured persons: three men and one woman. Three were taken to Bangkok Hospital Chanthaburi for treatment. The fourth, Mr. Chittiphat Osotcharoen, known as Nop, 51, the orchard owner, was shot in the head, critically injured, and transferred to Phra Pok Klao Hospital, where he later died.
Among the three injured, the first was Mr. Yuthana Si Khao, 49, the harvesting team leader and owner of the 'Hia Yuth-Jae Sa' stall, who was shot in the face, arm, and leg. The second was Yuthana’s wife, shot in the leg. The third was Mr. Natthasit Ritkhambop, 21, stepson of the orchard owner, who was also injured.
Later, Pol. Col. Akkapong Sunthorwiphat, Deputy Commander of Chanthaburi Provincial Police, along with the investigation team, followed up on the case at Bangkok Hospital Chanthaburi. They seized two vehicles in the parking lot used to transport the injured. The first was a white Toyota pickup truck, license plate 1ขน 6553 Bangkok, owned by the orchard owner’s side, with bloodstains in the truck bed.
The second vehicle was a black Ford pickup truck, owned by Mr. Yuthana, the harvesting team leader, also with bloodstains at the rear. An 11 mm firearm was found inside and was confiscated for investigation.
Initial investigation revealed that earlier that morning, Mr. Yuthana and his harvesting team arrived at the orchard to pick durians as scheduled. An argument broke out amid about 20 workers from both sides, followed by several gunshots. Both sides fled to save themselves. After the gunfire ceased, multiple people were injured and taken to hospital.
Police are currently questioning both sides to determine the true cause, with each side denying they fired first.
The quarrel reportedly stemmed from fallen durians mixed with those already picked, and damage caused by delayed harvesting, leading to heated disputes and dissatisfaction from previous harvesting rounds, culminating in today's violent confrontation.
Neighbors said the orchard owner was kind-hearted but spoke bluntly and directly. Outsiders might have been offended, but local residents understood that despite his harsh words, he had a good heart.
Pol. Lt. Amnat Runnoom, the investigator from Thung Bencha Police Station, is gathering evidence and testimonies from both sides to proceed with strict legal action.