In Chonburi, authorities intervened after a police sergeant drew his gun and fired all rounds inside an apartment. The sergeant claimed self-defense, while the girlfriend's friends alleged drug use. Police detained the group for urine tests.
At 05:30 on 19 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Police Lieutenant Colonel Sonthaya Khonsap, Deputy Inspector of the Patrol Division at Mueang Pattaya Police Station, received a report of a person firing a gun inside an apartment located in South Pattaya, Soi Yensabai, Village No. 9, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. Upon receiving the report, he promptly led officers to investigate.
At the scene outside the apartment, police cordoned off the area to prevent unrelated individuals from approaching due to the suspect being armed. Officers then proceeded to the third-floor apartment, detaining the police sergeant from Bang Lamung Police Station, along with a 9mm firearm, and summoned four women aged approximately 18 to 25 for questioning.
Inside the apartment, multiple bullet holes were found on the walls, doors, and ceiling, but no injuries were reported.
The apartment caretaker and Mr. Ta, who helped control the situation, said they were alerted by occupants including the suspect and four women. The suspect appeared intoxicated and was shaking continuously, causing a loud disturbance and threatening to destroy property. When they tried to intervene, the suspect ran to grab a gun hidden under a pillow and fired all eight rounds, prompting everyone to flee and call authorities.
One of the four women said the suspect and his girlfriend came to the apartment, then left to get pot. They returned intoxicated and unconscious, attempting to harass the women and assault his own girlfriend. Out of fear, they quickly left and informed the caretaker to check the apartment. Upon arrival, the police sergeant grabbed the gun from under a pillow and fired multiple shots, causing everyone to flee for their lives. She believes the incident was triggered by dissatisfaction with their warning and the suspect's intoxication, mistaking others as threats.
The four women consistently stated that drug use, including pot, occurred inside the apartment.
Initially, Lieutenant Colonel Sonthaya Khonsap reported the incident to his superior, Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyu, Chief of Mueang Pattaya Police Station, and coordinated with the investigative team and forensic police from Chonburi Province to examine evidence at the scene and the sergeant's firearm. E-cigarettes were found in the apartment, though it is unclear whether they contained ketamine or other substances. Urine tests will be conducted on all involved, with the four women already confessing to drug use, leaving only the sergeant's status pending.
Medical examinations found no drugs in the sergeant's system. Regarding the firearm discharge, he claimed he was assaulted first and fired in self-defense, without intent to harm others. A thorough investigation is ongoing to determine the true cause.