PHICHIT – A festive religious celebration turned into a scene of terror on Saturday when an army sergeant allegedly intercepted his wife’s vehicle and opened fire in broad daylight. The incident, fueled by suspected jealousy, has left a woman fighting for her life and authorities searching for a soldier on the run.
The shooting occurred around 1:00 PM on April 11, 2026, on the Phichit-Dong Klang Road in the Mueang District. Local police were alerted after a silver sedan arrived at Chai Arun Wechakan Hospital carrying a female passenger with a severe gunshot wound.
According to police reports, the victim, identified as Ms. Kritkaew, was traveling back from an ordination ceremony at Wat Dong Klang. She was accompanied by a male companion, 54-year-old Mr. Kittipiphat, who was driving the vehicle.
The peaceful drive was violently interrupted when a pickup truck, with its license plates intentionally obscured, sped up and cut them off. The driver of the truck stepped out, brandishing a handgun, and blocked the road.
Mr. Kittipiphat told investigators that he initially didn’t know who the man was. “I asked my girlfriend who was blocking our path,” he said. “She looked at him and told me, ‘It’s my husband from home.'”
Moments Of Terror
Before the couple could react, the suspect—identified by police as Sergeant Major First Class Attasit Phophan—approached the car and fired two rounds from a 9mm pistol into the vehicle.
- The First Shot: Struck Ms. Kritkaew in her side, causing a life-threatening injury.
- The Second Shot: Hit the rear passenger seat, narrowly missing the occupants.
Panic-stricken, Mr. Kittipiphat managed to drive away from the scene and rush Ms. Kritkaew to the nearest hospital. Doctors immediately moved her into surgery to remove the bullet and stabilize her condition. While she remains in serious condition, medical staff are working around the clock to save her.
Preliminary investigations by Pol. Lt. Supaphop Chawinwarakul of the Dong Pa Kham Police Station suggest that the motive was intense personal jealousy.
It appears that Ms. Kritkaew had recently begun a relationship with Mr. Kittipiphat, lasting about a month. The two had met at the temple to participate in the ordination ceremony, a public event that may have tipped off the Sergeant.
Police Launch Manhunt
Investigators believe Sergeant Major Attasit had been tracking his wife’s movements. Upon seeing her with another man at the temple, he allegedly waited for them to leave before launching the targeted attack. After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene in his pickup truck and remains at large.
The Phichit provincial police have launched a full-scale search for Sergeant Major Attasit. Officers have visited his known residences and contacted his military unit, but his whereabouts remain unknown.
“We are currently gathering all forensic evidence from the vehicle and the scene of the crime,” a police spokesperson stated. “Once the victim is stable enough to speak, we will take her formal statement. In the meantime, we urge the suspect to surrender peacefully to the authorities.”
Authorities have warned the public that the suspect is considered armed and dangerous. Under Thai law, the Sergeant faces charges of attempted murder and carrying a firearm in public without authorization.
This tragic event highlights the ongoing issue of domestic disputes escalating into public violence. Community leaders in Phichit have expressed shock at the brazen nature of the crime, occurring so close to a sacred religious site during a time of celebration.
Police continue to monitor the hospital where Ms. Kritkaew is recovering, ensuring her safety as the manhunt for her husband continues across the province and neighboring regions.
