CHIANG RAI – On July 7, 2026, police arrested a 42-year-old man early this morning after a fatal shooting that left his wife, her sister, and another relative dead, with two more family members seriously injured. Officers surrounded a house in Wiang Chiang Rung District around 7:00 a.m. and moved in carefully because the suspect was armed and had been hiding after the attack in Wiang Kaen District. They later seized a 9mm pistol as evidence.
Key Takeaways:
- The shooting happened at a home in Wiang Kaen District late yesterday night.
- Three people died, and two others remain hospitalized with serious injuries.
- Police said the suspect admitted he had argued with his wife often over jealousy.
The suspect is accused of opening fire at the family home around 10:00 p.m. on July 6. According to police, the attack killed the wife’s sister and another male relative. Two people were also critically wounded: the suspect’s 52-year-old wife and her 29-year-old child, who has special needs. Both were taken to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital for treatment.
Police traced the suspect after the shooting and learned that he had fled across district lines. He later hid at a relative’s house, where officers planned the arrest and sent someone close to him to speak with him. They asked him to put down the weapon and talked to him about what had happened. After several hours, he finally walked out and surrendered.
Police Say Jealousy Likely Triggered the Attack
In the first questioning, the suspect admitted that he and his wife argued often. He said the fights were tied to jealousy, especially when other men spoke with her. Police said he used the gun during that dispute and fired at his wife and the family members inside the house.
Later in the morning, officers planned to take him back to the scene for a re-enactment, but he refused. He used his right to skip the procedure because he feared for his safety.
That concern was not without reason. More than 50 relatives and neighbors of the dead and injured gathered near the house and voiced anger over the shooting. Meanwhile, officers from Wiang Kaen Police Station and forensic teams entered the property to collect evidence.
Village Leaders and Residents Describe the Scene
The village headman said there had already been one physical fight before the shooting. He stepped in and stopped it at the time. Soon after, however, he heard gunshots and rushed back to the scene. A grandchild of one of the victims then ran out asking for help, and that was when he learned the suspect had fired and fled.
Residents who gathered outside the house said they were shocked and saddened. They said the couple had often been seen arguing and sometimes fighting. The suspect and his wife did not have children together, and the child involved was the wife’s child from a previous relationship.
Villagers also said violence of this scale had never happened in the community before. They described the shooting as severe and said the suspect acted with extreme brutality, especially because one of the victims was a child with special needs.
Police have filed charges of intentional murder and carrying a firearm and ammunition into a town, village, or public place without permission and without a valid reason.
