Debt Dispute Between Friend Ends in Murder at Night Market

BANGKOK – A popular night market in Lopburi, Thailand, turned into a scene of absolute chaos on Tuesday night. Diners scattered in sudden panic as a local vendor pulled out a gun and shot his close friend. This tragic and violent incident finally ended when the shooter decided to take his own life.

The shocking violence took place around 9:30 p.m. at the bustling Sa Kaeo night market. Local police believe the dispute stemmed from an unresolved debt between the two long-time companions. Shoppers were left entirely stunned by the sudden and deadly confrontation in the outdoor food court.

Key Takeaways

A 64-year-old vendor shot his 62-year-old friend at a crowded Lopburi night market before committing suicide.
Police discovered multiple firearms and heavy ammunition on the shooter, highlighting the planned nature of the attack.
Authorities suspect a hidden, unpaid debt caused the fatal rift between the men, who were lifelong friends.

The victim, identified as 62-year-old Phenphak Watwanthana, ran a popular duck noodle stall at the market. He was unexpectedly shot four times, sustaining severe wounds to his chest, side, arm, and thigh. Emergency medical responders found his lifeless body lying in a pool of blood behind his busy food stand.

The shooter was 64-year-old Kukiat Hansuebsinlapasuk, who was a neighboring vendor and a very close friend. According to shocked witnesses, Kukiat sat eating fruit and calmly watching his friend for about fifteen minutes. He then quietly walked over to the noodle stand and fired the fatal shots without any warning.

A Calm Aftermath and a Second Tragedy

After shooting his longtime friend, Kukiat did not try to run away from the crowded market scene. Instead, he simply walked back to his own food stall and sat down to smoke a cigarette. About five minutes later, he used the exact same weapon to tragically end his own life.

When local police arrived, they found a deeply disturbing scene among the panicked food stall patrons. Officers quickly discovered an 11mm handgun near Kukiat, along with several spent shell casings on the ground. A thorough search of his body soon revealed even more terrifying details about his violent preparation.

Authorities found a second 11mm handgun tucked securely into the angry shooter’s waistband during their search. In addition to the extra weapon, Kukiat carried three fully loaded magazines of deadly, live ammunition. This heavy armament clearly suggests he was fully ready for a much larger armed confrontation if necessary.

Phenphak’s 54-year-old wife, Phunsuk, witnessed the horrific sequence of events unfold right at their food stall. She tearfully explained to police that the two older men had been close companions for dozens of years. They sold food side-by-side every single night and shared a very long, complicated personal history together.

Decades of Friendship Destroyed by Debt

The grieving wife noted that the two friends had experienced highly heated arguments in the distant past. They had even engaged in physical fights before eventually making peace and returning to their normal work. However, she was completely unaware of the deadly financial conflict silently brewing between them in recent weeks.

The Thairath News, reported that a hidden financial dispute likely sparked the tragedy. Police investigators currently believe that a major unpaid debt slowly destroyed their long-standing, seemingly unbreakable friendship. The heavy, stressful burden of this money issue eventually pushed the older man to commit extreme violence.

Law enforcement officials are currently interviewing other market vendors and family members to gather more concrete evidence. They desperately want to understand exactly how much money was owed and why tensions escalated so quickly. The local community remains in very deep shock over the tragic loss of two highly familiar faces.

Public market violence is relatively rare in this quiet province, making this brutal crime especially jarring for locals. Residents are now actively mourning the sudden tragedy that completely shattered their peaceful, everyday evening routine. The local police department will release a final, detailed report once all witnesses share their full official statements.