In Phatthalung, a construction contractor was ambushed and shot in the grass beside his home while driving golf balls. The bullet pierced his earlobe and exited through his cheek, leaving him critically injured. It is believed the assailant used a scoped sniper rifle from the forest behind the house. Police are considering business and personal conflicts as possible motives for the attack.
At about 20:00 on 20 Aug 2026, Police Lieutenant Pongsak Khaonuang, the investigating officer from Bang Kaeo Police Station, together with forensic officials, inspected the scene at a home that also houses a well-known construction company in Village 8, Khoksak Subdistrict, Bang Kaeo District, Phatthalung, following reports of a shooting injury.
At the scene on the lawn beside the house, which serves as a golf driving range, there was a pool of blood and nearby golf clubs and balls. The injured man was identified as Mr. Saeng-Athit Phueaksom, 57, a construction contractor. He was shot once with an unknown firearm in his right earlobe, with the bullet lodging in his left cheek. Relatives rushed him first to Thamod Hospital, then transferred him to Phatthalung Hospital for treatment.
Preliminary investigation revealed that before the shooting, Mr. Saeng-Athit was playing golf alone on the lawn when two gunshots were fired. He was hit and injured. Upon hearing the shots, relatives came outside, found him wounded, and immediately took him to the hospital.
Police initially suspect the shooter was hiding in the brushy forest area near the field before committing the act and escaped through the forest path. Authorities are currently verifying facts and collecting evidence.
This morning (21 Oct), police detectives and EOD officers returned to the scene to gather more evidence. It is preliminarily believed the assailant was concealed about 30 meters away in the forest behind the house and used a .22 caliber rifle with a scope to shoot Mr. Saeng-Athit before fleeing along the main road.
The injured man’s younger brother revealed that his brother runs a road construction business and was last working on a road in Mae Khri Subdistrict, Thamod District. He reportedly had no disputes with anyone, so the family believes the motive is likely related to the construction business. His condition remains stable.
Police are focusing primarily on a business-related conflict but have not ruled out personal disputes. They continue gathering evidence to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrator.