Chanthaburi – The Village Security Volunteer (VSV) team from Ban Dongjik, Pong Nam Ron district, while patrolling the village, encountered a suspicious group of men acting furtively. They called on them to stop for inspection, but the men resisted and fled into the forest. The VSV surrounded them, but the suspects fought back before one was shot dead on the spot. Two others escaped. They are believed to be Cambodian nationals who illegally entered the area to steal motorcycles in Pong Nam Ron.
At 2:00 a.m. on 5 July 2026, Lieutenant Pol. Vallop Phunphon, a duty officer at Pong Nam Ron Police Station, Chanthaburi province, received a report from the village headman of Village No. 5, Ban Dongjik, Pong Nam Ron district, that a shooting incident had occurred with one fatality at the scene. After receiving the report, he informed his superiors and coordinated with the Sawang Katanyu Rescue Unit, Pong Nam Ron team, to assist with the forensic examination.
At the scene beside a canal at the edge of villagers' orchards, the body of an unidentified man was found lying face down. A hooked knife was in his left hand, and a backpack was on his back.
According to an initial statement from Mr. Ubon Khaemuan, village headman of Village No. 5, Ban Dongjik, he led the VSV team to patrol and maintain peace in the village. Around 1:00 a.m. on 5 July 2026, they spotted three burly men walking on the road between Ban Phang Ngon and Ban Chang Wang in Pong Nam Ron district. They called on the men to stop for inspection, but the group ran into the forest. The VSV team then spread out to surround the area. Because the VSV members are familiar with the terrain, Mr. Add Boksungnoen, assistant village headman for security, separated to ambush a route the suspects were likely to take.
The group of men later emerged from the forest and confronted Mr. Add, raising hooked knives in an attempt to attack him. Mr. Add dodged and fired one shot from his 9mm handgun, hitting one suspect in the left hip. Both sides were shocked and fled, running into a canal. Mr. Add called for VSV backup, but due to darkness and safety concerns, they contained the area for some time. When silence fell, the village headman led the VSV team to clear the area and found one body about 20 meters from the confrontation point.
The forensic examination revealed the deceased was one of three suspects involved in a string of thefts in villages, prompting several social media pages to post CCTV footage warning the public. A gunshot wound was found on the left hip. Searching his backpack found no identification but a key for a Honda Wave motorcycle, motorcycle theft tools, and some drug paraphernalia. Authorities believe the suspects are Cambodian nationals who illegally entered the country to commit thefts in Pong Nam Ron and Soi Dao areas, where motorcycle theft is rampant, especially in Ban Dongjik, which experiences daily losses of motorcycles and belongings.
The body was initially sent to Pong Nam Ron Hospital for autopsy to determine the cause of death and is being held awaiting relatives to claim it.