Police Search for Suspect After Fatal Shooting in Udon Thani Rice Field
A man is found dead with gunshot and knife wounds near a rice field in Udon Thani, prompting a major police manhunt for a missing neighbour.
Gruesome Discovery Near Rural Hut
Police and forensic teams rush to a rice field in Nong Sa-at district after a body is found near a wooden hut, just 100 metres from the road in Ban Non Thongkham Charoen.
The victim, 39-year-old Thawatchai, lies near a pond, suffering a shotgun wound to the face and chest and a deep knife wound to the head.
A sickle and machete, believed to be his, are found next to the body, along with a grey shotgun cartridge.
Suspect on the Run
The hut and farmland are reportedly rented by Khongdet, 67, who is missing when police arrive.
Officers confirm Khongdet is a former hunter familiar with the local terrain and believe he may have fled toward the mountainous border with Khon Kaen province.
Police name him as a person of interest and intensify their search.
Neighbours Recall Past Disputes
Locals say Thawatchai and Khongdet have argued before, though the cause of this latest violence remains unclear.
Officials reveal Thawatchai has a history of drug use and psychiatric treatment.
His wife, Namfon, 36, tells police she last spoke to him at 8am before he left to harvest cassava. An hour later, neighbours inform her of his death.
Witnesses Describe the Scene
Bhutha, 58, who discovers the body, recalls hearing two gunshots while cutting grass nearby.
“At first, I thought someone was shooting at birds or rodents,” he says. “But when I checked the hut, I found Thawatchai’s body.”
Investigation Continues
Police treat the case as suspected murder and are collecting evidence to determine if others were involved.
Thawatchai’s body is sent for autopsy as the manhunt for Khongdet continues.
Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward as they work to solve the shocking killing in Udon Thani.
The story Udon Thani man shot after dispute with neighbour as seen on Thaiger News.