A man threw a bomb at a bullfighting arena and a traditional Thai house owned by a well-known Tambon headman in Trang. The caretaker pursued him on a motorcycle and then fatally shot him in a rubber plantation. Afterwards, the suspect surrendered to police with the gun. Authorities are urgently investigating the cause of the incident.
At approximately 03:30 on 6 Aug 2026, Police Lieutenant Nawapan Lueangkaew, Deputy Investigation Chief of Trang City Police Station, received a report of a man shot dead in a rubber plantation in Moo 3, Nabinla Subdistrict, Mueang District, Trang Province, behind a company. She informed her superiors, then led officers, including Police Colonel Phum Balthip, the station chief, detectives, forensic officials from Trang Provincial Police, a duty doctor from Trang Hospital, and rescue volunteers from the Trang Kusol Sathan Foundation, to the scene.
At the scene inside the rubber plantation, the deceased was identified as Mr. Sastra Wut Thanachamjai, 24, from Yantakhao District, Trang. He was found lying face-up in a pool of blood, wearing a T-shirt and long jeans without shoes. Near his right hand lay a Smith & Wesson .357 caliber revolver with a 4-inch barrel. Examination showed three spent casings and three unused rounds inside the cylinder. The weapon was seized as evidence.
The preliminary autopsy revealed the deceased was shot four times with an 11 mm firearm: one bullet passed through the right ear to the left ear, one to the back of the head, one beside the right ear, and one on the left forehead. Near the body, two 11 mm shell casings and the deceased’s black hooded jacket were found and collected for forensic examination.
About 200 meters from the body, officers found a gray Honda Wave 110 motorcycle without license plates parked in front of a company by the roadside. Nearby were the deceased’s red slippers beside the bike, and a cap was found in the bike’s basket.
Initial investigation suggests the deceased parked his motorcycle, removed his slippers, then ran through an oil palm plantation into the rubber plantation. The suspect reportedly chased him on foot and fatally shot him inside the rubber plantation.
A witness who was tapping rubber trees nearby said he heard multiple gunshots, as if there was a shootout. He quickly turned off his headlamp and hid in the rubber trees, fearing danger, and later learned someone had been shot dead.
At about 05:45 the same day, Mr. Yongyot Koetkong, also known as “Look Kai Na Mera,” 45, from Nayong Nuea Subdistrict, Na Yong District, Trang, surrendered to the Trang City Police with the firearm used in the incident. Detectives took him in for detailed questioning. Forensic officials tested gunpowder residue on the suspect and collected further evidence to support the investigation and forensic results.
In preliminary questioning, the suspect said he is a cattle breeder and caretaker of the bullfighting arena in Nabinla Subdistrict. He claimed the deceased threw a bomb inside the arena causing damage. He then pursued the deceased by vehicle for several kilometers. When reaching the company area, the deceased parked his motorcycle, left his slippers, and fled through an oil palm plantation into the rubber plantation about 200 meters away. A shootout ensued, resulting in the deceased’s death. The suspect then decided to surrender to police.
The police initially charged the suspect with intentional homicide and are proceeding with legal processes. They are still gathering evidence, forensic results, and taking additional witness statements.
Regarding the investigation, at about 23:42 on the night of 5 Aug, local residents in Ban Khuan Subdistrict heard two explosion-like sounds. These were later confirmed to be bombs thrown at the traditional Thai house of Mr. Jamnong Navakaew, a former prominent Tambon headman and influential figure in Trang Province.
Later, around 03:00 on 6 Aug, residents in Nabinla Subdistrict heard two more explosions, later found to be bombs thrown at the bullfighting arena. Shortly after, multiple gunshots were heard before the body was discovered in the rubber plantation. Authorities are thoroughly investigating whether these events are connected to support the case proceedings.