In Chiang Mai, police and military forces arrested a violent man who shot a 3-year-old child, seriously injuring him, after searching for the child's father because he suspected him of having an affair with his wife. Unable to find the father, he drew a gun and shot the young child instead.
At 09:00 on 9 Jun 2026 GMT+7, under the leadership of Pol. Lt. Gen. Kritthaphon Yisakorn, Commander of Region 5 Police, Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawatchai Pongwiwatthanachai and Pol. Maj. Gen. Woraphong Kamlue, Deputy Commanders of Region 5 Police, Pol. Col. Chaichan Penchaiya, Chief of Wiang Haeng Police Station, Chiang Mai, Pol. Col. Seksan Khankhamnanta, Chief of Chiang Dao Police Station, Chiang Mai, and military personnel from the Heavy Weapons Unit of the Chaiyanuphap Task Force (Muang Khong base), led by Capt. Phichit Poompaiboon, along with other relevant officials, jointly arrested Mr. Sombat Leeja, 28, from Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province. He was wanted under an arrest warrant from the Chiang Dao District Court No. J 46/2568 dated 7 June 2026, on charges of attempted murder.
The case originated around 16:50 on 5 June 2026 GMT+7 when Lt. Pol. Suchart Manochai, Deputy Inspector (Investigation) of Wiang Haeng Police Station, Chiang Mai, received a report of a shooting incident involving a 3-year-old child who was seriously injured at a house in Muang Haeng Subdistrict, Wiang Haeng District, Chiang Mai. Upon receiving the report, he informed Pol. Col. Chaichan Penchaiya, Chief of Wiang Haeng Police Station, who urgently coordinated with all units to intercept the fleeing suspect. Due to the mountainous forest terrain and heavy rain, military forces from the Heavy Weapons Unit of the Chaiyanuphap Task Force were requested to assist. The suspect was later identified as Mr. Sombat Leeja, who fled the scene on a motorcycle.
Subsequently, the Heavy Weapons Unit of the Chaiyanuphap Task Force, Chiang Dao Police Station, and the investigative team from Wiang Haeng Police Station successfully apprehended the suspect while he was fleeing on the mountain in Muang Khong Subdistrict, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai. He was then brought in for interrogation at Wiang Haeng Police Station.
Investigations revealed that before the incident, Mr. Sombat, intoxicated, came looking for Mr. Chaiyana Lujah, 22, a relative. Mr. Chaiyana was not home; only a 3-year-old boy named Thanathip was playing with his grandfather in front of the house. Mr. Sombat claimed that Mr. Chaiyana was having an affair with his wife. Unable to find Mr. Chaiyana, he pulled out a short shotgun of Thai craftsmanship and fired one shot at young Thanathip, who was innocently playing with toys. The bullet struck the child, causing him to collapse in a pool of blood, crying in pain with multiple pellet wounds across his torso and a severe injury to his right arm. Relatives rushed the child to Wiang Haeng Hospital, but due to the severity of his condition, doctors transferred him to Nakornping Hospital in Chiang Mai. Recently, surgeons have operated and stabilized the child’s condition, bringing relief to everyone, especially the boy’s parents.