Three charges were filed under the Firearms Act and for property damage against Police Lieutenant Colonel from the Provincial Police Region 8 who fired 13 rounds at the Bhumjaithai Party Coordination Center in Surat Thani. The suspect claimed revenge for threats made against his brother. The Surat Thani Provincial Police Commander, a former superior, noted the suspect has a history of psychiatric treatment and hospitalization for mental illness due to this history.
On 20 June 2026, a suspect fired a 9mm handgun, shooting 13 rounds into the Bhumjaithai Party Coordination Office of MP Pichai Chomphuphol, Surat Thani District 6. The suspect had attempted to find MP Pichai but failed. Surveillance cameras clearly captured the suspect. Later, investigators identified the perpetrator as a police officer holding the rank of Police Lieutenant Colonel. After the shooting, he went to dine at a restaurant inside a well-known shopping mall in Surat Thani city.
At 11:00 a.m., the Special Operations Unit of the Surat Thani Provincial Police, together with an undercover investigation team, secured the mall after detecting the suspect’s movements. The suspect was identified as Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekachai Suphitak, 37, Deputy Superintendent at the Training Center of Provincial Police Region 8. He was dining at the mall’s restaurant. Authorities only monitored him closely because he was armed, the mall was crowded, and he was known to be mentally unstable, raising concerns that an arrest might provoke a violent incident.
At 1:30 p.m., undercover officers observed Lieutenant Colonel Ekachai leave the restaurant and enter the restroom. They followed and successfully apprehended him. He was then taken to the investigation division. Surat Thani Provincial Police Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Suwat Suksri and Deputy Commander Pol. Col. Paisan Sangthep were present for initial questioning.
Initially, Lieutenant Colonel Ekachai claimed that he shot at the Bhumjaithai Party Coordination Office of MP Pichai because his brother had previously been threatened by the MP, which caused him anger and led to the incident. Authorities charged him with carrying a firearm in the city without justified cause, discharging a firearm in the city without cause, and causing property damage. They collected gunshot residue and conducted urine tests before transferring him to Siwiat Police Station for legal proceedings.
Surat Thani Provincial Police Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Suwat Suksri said he had previously been the suspect’s commanding officer. He noted the suspect had a history of mental illness and had been hospitalized, but after the commander left his post, no follow-up on treatment was conducted until the suspect committed the offense. After the arrest, the incident was reported to the head of the Provincial Police Region 8 Training Center.
Regarding the investigation process, the commander instructed investigators to thoroughly question the suspect and to summon his relatives and wife for questioning to explore motives. A psychiatrist will be engaged to assess the suspect’s mental health.
Recently, reporters confirmed that the Chaiya Provincial Court approved an arrest warrant for the suspect, charging him with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition without authorization, carrying a firearm openly in the city, village, or public area without permission or justified cause, discharging a firearm using explosive powder in a city, village, or community without cause, and causing property damage.