The commanding unit of Police Lieutenant Colonel who shot at the Proud Thai Party sign "Proud Thai" has set up a committee to investigate serious disciplinary violations and suspended him pending criminal charges.
In the case of Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekachai Suphitak, 37, deputy superintendent of training at the Regional Police Training Center 8, who fired a 9mm gun 13 times at the Proud Thai Party coordination office in Siwiat subdistrict, Tha Chang district, Surat Thani, belonging to MP Pichai Chomphuphon, Surat Thani constituency 6, the Chaiya Provincial Court later issued an arrest warrant charging him with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, carrying a firearm in public places without permission and without cause, discharging a firearm recklessly in public areas, and causing property damage.(Police lieutenant colonel fired 13 shots at Proud Thai Party center in Surat Thani, claimed retaliation for brother's threats; found mentally ill)
On 21 June 2026, Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekachai Suphitak was brought from custody for further interrogation by Deputy Superintendent Kittisak Charoenrup of Muang Surat Thani Police Station on charges of carrying firearms and ammunition in public without permission and without cause.
During questioning, the suspect confessed and cooperated. Afterward, he was sent for a psychiatric evaluation by specialists at Suan Saranyom Hospital in Phunphin district. Plans are to request his detention at Surat Thani Provincial Court the next day. The Siwiat Police Station will issue a detention request for the charge of firing a gun in public without cause and causing property damage (at the crime scene).
Police Colonel Natchanon Koetko, acting superintendent of Siwiat Police Station, said that after the incident, relatives whom the suspect claimed were threatened by MP Pichai Chomphuphon denied the threats and stated that before the shooting, Ekachai inquired about conflicts at work. Ekachai believed his supervisor, a local politician close to MP Pichai, was harassing him, but the relatives denied this and said they had no interest in such issues until the shooting occurred.
This aligns with statements from Ekachai's mother and sister, who said he was stressed, serious in life, often imagined being taken advantage of or harassed, and had episodes of uncontrollable anger. He had previously received treatment at Chaiya Hospital.
Later, investigators from Muang Surat Thani Police took Ekachai for psychiatric evaluation by specialists. Meanwhile, the Surat Thani Provincial Police will notify the firearms registrar to immediately revoke his firearm license due to his unfitness to possess weapons.
Police Major General Phattharawit Keetmothaneeyakul, commander of Regional Police Training Center 8, said that after receiving reports from Surat Thani Provincial Police, he ordered a committee to investigate serious disciplinary misconduct and suspended Ekachai from duty due to the criminal charges.
Internal review showed that Ekachai served as a legal officer specializing in law, with a history of treatment for stress and anxiety disorders. Before the incident, he was undergoing related training in Bangkok, scheduled to complete on 26 June 2026. Previously, his superiors noticed abnormal behavior on his personal social media posts and tried to contact him, suspecting personal stress, but were unable to reach him. He returned during a holiday and committed the act.
Ekachai joined the police force as a commissioned officer in 2016 through an external program for holders of the Thai Bar examination, a field the Royal Thai Police lacks sufficient personnel.