Lampang Restaurant Owner Surrenders To Police After Killing Neighbor

LAMPANG – A tragic neighborhood conflict in northern Thailand leaves one dead and two injured after a local shop owner attacks his neighbors following an ongoing property feud.

In a shocking turn of events, a quiet neighborhood in Lampang province became the scene of a tragic crime. A 62-year-old local restaurant owner surrendered to the police after fatally shooting his neighbor. The incident also left the victim’s wife and sister severely injured.

The violent outburst occurred late at night on April 26, sending shockwaves through the local community. By the following morning, the suspect turned himself in, sparking a deep police investigation into a long-standing land dispute.

The suspect is identified as Mr. Anusorn Srijaitan, commonly known as Mr. Tha. He is the 62-year-old owner of the well-known “268 Pork Blood Soup” shop. His restaurant is located near the entrance of Ban Sri Pong Chai in the Mueang District of Lampang.

According to reports, the conflict reached its breaking point on Sunday night. Parinya, the brother of the injured wife, Panadda, shared details of the terrifying event. Parinya visited his sister at the local hospital and confirmed she is now safe and recovering. He explained that a heated argument took place right before the violence began.

After the argument, Panadda and her husband went back inside their home. They thought the fight was over. However, the situation quickly escalated. Mr. Tha followed the couple to their house, carrying a firearm. He aggressively demanded that they open the door. When the husband finally opened the door, the suspect fired his weapon immediately, killing him on the spot.

The Brutal Attack

The weapon used in the shooting was a gun that held only a single bullet. Because the gun was empty after the first shot, the suspect ran back to his soup shop. He grabbed a knife and quickly returned to the victims’ home.

Upon his return, Mr. Tha brutally attacked Panadda with the knife. During this chaos, the victim’s sister, known as Eve, arrived at the scene. She bravely tried to stop the attack by grabbing the suspect from behind.

In response, the suspect swung the knife backward, slashing Eve and causing severe injuries. Parinya strongly believes that if the suspect’s gun had held more bullets, all three family members would have been murdered.

The Root of the Conflict

When questioned by the police at the Khelang Nakhon Police Station, the suspect claimed he acted out of sudden anger. He told investigators that he had been constantly sworn at and verbally abused by the neighbors.

The core issue behind this deep hatred was a fierce land dispute. The land in question originally belonged to a local Member of Parliament (MP). The MP had previously allowed the deceased victim to use the land for free, simply asking him to look after the property.

However, about five or six months ago, the suspect started renting a portion of this same land to operate his restaurant. This new arrangement created severe tension and ongoing arguments over land usage rights. For more context on the local police response and the timeline, you can read the coverage from MGR Online.

Lampang Family Speaks Out

Despite the suspect’s claims of being provoked, the victim’s family strongly disagrees. The older brother of the deceased victim spoke briefly to the press. He firmly stated that he does not believe his brother started the fight.

He described his brother as a very quiet person who rarely spoke much. While he admitted that his brother enjoyed drinking alcohol, he noted that his brother would simply go to sleep when drunk. He emphasized that the victim was never the type to pick fights or cause trouble with anyone.

Following the brutal attack, Mr. Tha fled the scene on his motorcycle. However, the pressure quickly mounted. By the late morning of April 27, his relatives brought him to the police station to surrender.

The police initially planned to take the suspect back to the crime scene for a standard reenactment. However, when police assessed the situation, they found more than 20 angry relatives of the victims waiting at the scene. They were eager to confront the shooter.

Fearing for his safety, the suspect changed his mind at the very last minute. After nearly a full day of intense interrogation, he officially refused to participate in the reenactment. As a result, the police immediately transferred him to the local court for detention. You can find additional details on the charges via ThaiPost.

Key Facts of the Case:
- The Suspect: 62-year-old restaurant owner, Mr. Anusorn “Tha” Srijaitan.
- The Victims: One neighbor was shot dead; two women were injured by knife slashes.
- The Motive: A bitter feud over the use of local land owned by an MP.
- The Arrest: Surrendered to the police the morning after fleeing the scene.
- The Charges: Intentional murder, attempted murder, and illegal firearms offenses.

The local authorities have taken a strict stance on this violent crime. The police officially charged the suspect with intentional murder, attempted murder, and severe violations of the Firearms Act.

Because the crimes carry heavy penalties and the suspect poses a potential flight risk, the court completely denied his request for bail. He will remain in police custody as the legal process moves forward.

This tragedy serves as a grim reminder of how unresolved local disputes can quickly spiral into deadly violence. The community now mourns the loss of a life while hoping for a fair and just legal process.