Chiang Rai witnessed a tragic incident late at night when a 42-year-old man pulled out a firearm and opened fire on his wife's family, killing two on the spot and seriously injuring two others. He then fled, crossing into another district, but police quickly launched a coordinated manhunt and apprehended him immediately along with the weapon. Authorities are urgently investigating the cause and motive behind the attack.
The shocking incident was reported at 21:45 on 6 July 2026 when the radio center of Wiang Kaen Police Station, Chiang Rai, received a report of a shooting with multiple injuries and fatalities. The event occurred in front of a house in Village No. 2, Muang Yai Subdistrict, Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai. Upon receiving the report, Police Colonel Songkran Sanwong, Chief of Wiang Kaen Police Station, together with Police Lieutenant Krittipoom Taboon, investigator, led officers and a detective team to the scene for inspection.
At the scene, officers found four people shot and seriously injured, lying face down. They promptly coordinated with Wiang Kaen Hospital for urgent medical evacuation. Later, it was confirmed that two victims succumbed to their wounds on site: Mrs. Supannee Woraphat, 55, the sister of the suspect’s wife, and Mr. Kriangsak Nimnuan, a relative. Two others were seriously injured: Mrs. Sunida Phasi, 52, the suspect’s wife, and Mr. Sirak Phasi, 29, her stepson.
The suspect was identified as Mr. Kritsakorn Sittikhankaew, 42, a resident of Village No. 4, Thung Ko Subdistrict, Wiang Chiang Rung District, Chiang Rai. After committing the crime, he used the cover of darkness to flee the area with the firearm used in the attack.
Later, at approximately 06:30 on 7 July 2026, under the direction of Police Major General Manop Senakul, Commander of Chiang Rai Provincial Police, and Police Colonel Phiphat Naradet, Deputy Commander, Police Colonel Patsakorn Thawatchiangkul, Chief of the Chiang Rai Provincial Police Investigation Division, led a detective team coordinating with investigators from Wiang Kaen and Wiang Chiang Rung Police Stations to closely track and pursue the suspect based on the arrest warrant.
Authorities successfully apprehended Mr. Kritsakorn while he was fleeing in Wiang Chiang Rung District, seizing the firearm and ammunition used in the crime as evidence. He was taken into custody and formally charged with "intentional murder and carrying a firearm and ammunition in public without a license or lawful reason." He was then handed over to investigators at Wiang Kaen Police Station for legal proceedings. Authorities are conducting detailed interrogations to uncover the true cause and motive behind this tragic event.