Man, 44, Shot in Ambush Outside Home, Father Claims Victim is Aggressive & Addicted to Meth

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

A 44-year-old man is recovering in hospital after being shot outside his home in Phatthalung Province on the evening of 6 April, in what police believe may have been a targeted ambush stemming from personal conflict.

 

Pol. Lt. Sommai Keosuk of Phatthalung City Police Station and Pol. Col. Yuthasak Eiamsunthon, head of investigations for the provincial police, responded to the shooting at approximately 20:10, leading a team of detectives to the scene in Ban Sai Nai Khan, Village 9, Tha Khae Subdistrict.

 

 

The victim, Mr. Pairoj Chupeea, sustained a gunshot wound to the right side of his ribcage. He was rushed to Phatthalung Hospital, where doctors confirmed he was in a stable condition. The shooting reportedly occurred about 10 metres from the house, in a dark area of forest adjacent to the property. A trail of blood was found near a water faucet at the front of the house.

 

CCTV footage captured Pairoj’s 19-year-old son, identified as Mr. Fiew, and a group of six friends dragging him to safety after hearing his cries for help. Fiew initially believed the loud bang was caused by a bottle exploding in the burning rubbish his father had set alight, but quickly discovered his father had been shot.

 

According to police, Mr. Pairoj had been incinerating waste near the house while his son and friends sat nearby playing on their phones. Moments later, a gunshot rang out. Mr. Fiew reported that his father had recently expressed fear that someone was planning to harm him. He also mentioned that Pairoj had argued with a neighbour just two or three days earlier but did not elaborate on the dispute.

 

Police have since questioned a 49-year-old neighbour, Mr. Sak, as a suspect. He was taken in for interrogation and gunpowder residue testing, before being released pending forensic results.

 

Mr. Job Chupeea, 76, the father of the injured man, gave a frank account of his son’s history. He said Mr. Pairoj was a former construction craftsman who became addicted to methamphetamine about three years ago and could no longer work. “He is aggressive, hot-tempered, and blunt. He doesn’t care about anyone and has a history of abusing his wife when he’s angry,” Mr. Job stated, adding that his son had previously been arrested and sent for drug rehabilitation.

 

This account was corroborated by Ms. Ying, Mr. Pairoj’s wife, who said he spent most days sleeping and doing nothing. She works late at a barbecue restaurant and rarely saw him awake. She claimed no knowledge of any recent disputes.

 

Police are continuing their investigation and believe personal animosity may be behind the attempted killing.

 

-- 2025-04-08