The Pathum Thani Provincial Governor has announced a 50,000-baht reward for information on an armed suspect fleeing arrest in Lat Lum Kaeo. He stressed that if the suspect wishes to surrender, safety will be assured. Meanwhile, the suspect's mother opened up, saying her son has been stressed with accumulated problems and issues.
Following the case where Lat Lum Kaeo Police have conducted a widespread search for Mr. Nopparat, also known as L, who shot at rescue officers on Motorway 7 in Chonburi and took his father-in-law hostage before fleeing back to his hometown in Lat Lum Kaeo, Pathum Thani, authorities revealed the cause stemmed from a quarrel with his wife—a family conflict. They confirmed there were no reports of him threatening to shoot children at school, as previously reported.
At 08:00 on 18 Feb 2026, Police Lieutenant General Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, Pathum Thani Provincial Governor, or Big Jazz, together with Mr. Chaiwat Inthalerd, Chairman of the Pathum Thani Provincial Council, Mr. Suriya Piromphrom, Lat Lum Kaeo Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) Chief, and Mr. Sakda Kongsamrit, Rahaeng SAO Chief, visited the home of the suspect’s parents. They offered support to the family and, with the Lat Lum Kaeo police investigation team, coordinated with relatives to persuade Mr. Nopparat to surrender as soon as possible to reduce tension in the area and prevent potential harm, since the suspect is armed.
Police Lieutenant General Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, Pathum Thani Provincial Governor, said the public is alarmed because the suspect, who has a warrant out, is from Pathum Thani. Once news spread, residents, especially in Lat Lum Kaeo, became anxious, with many parents worried that their children might be harmed at school, similar to an incident in Hat Yai.
Today, I and local leaders visited the suspect’s parents to explain the situation. If the suspect contacts us to surrender, we are ready to guarantee his safety. Please be reassured that if he reaches out, I and his parents will accompany him for his safety and to prevent public panic.
Regarding official procedures, the police must follow protocol because the suspect is armed. Officers tracking him have been warned to be cautious. Surrender arrangements depend on coordination from the suspect’s parents. I guarantee his safety.
However, arrest efforts will continue simultaneously. I will coordinate with police to pursue the suspect thoroughly. Anyone providing information leading to his arrest will receive an initial reward of 50,000 baht. We will pursue this case to prevent a repeat of incidents like Hat Yai. About reports of him threatening children with a gun, I am unaware of their source. The parents confirm no such incident occurred. Therefore, the public should not panic, but it is good that we remain vigilant to prevent incidents before they happen.
The suspect’s mother, age 66, revealed the root of the conflict: her son has changed significantly due to financial problems and drug addiction. He has a habit of stealing money from his parents. The family argued daily over money. She works in gardening and keeps money bundles at her bedside, each around 100,000 baht, but large sums often disappear.
Sometimes he would secretly take 10,000 to 20,000 baht from a bundle of 100,000. When she asked if L had taken her money, he vehemently denied it. Asking his wife, she also said no. The mother threatened to use fingerprint evidence, after which he admitted to taking money. It was not just cash; he also stole 170,000 to 200,000 baht from his father and even transferred all funds from the bank account without her knowledge.
She said she does not know how he managed the transfers or when they occurred, but he always told her to keep quiet. Today, she plans to request a bank statement to review all transfer records. He confessed to her,"Mother, I admit that I use drugs."He claimed he used drugs to stay up late to watch what his wife was doing, because he knew she also gambled and he was suspicious she mightchatwith other men. When under the influence of drugs and consumed by jealousy, he would become upset and regularly physically abuse his wife. Despite his mother’s warnings, he would not listen. She believes that the incident in Chonburi happened because of pent-up anger over money, his wife, and drug effects, causing him to lose control.