Man Shot Dead on Doi Inthanon Road; Gunman Claims Mistaken Shooting While Hunting

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

A man was fatally shot near the Doi Inthanon mountain range in Chiang Mai, with the gunman claiming it was a tragic accident during a hunting trip. However, authorities suspect the killing may have been motivated by revenge, as the shooter was a close friend of the victim’s rival.

The incident occurred on the evening of 7 April in a remote area along the road to Doi Inthanon, in the village of Ban Luang, Chom Thong District. Police received a report of a man found dead at the scene, identified as Bancha, a 42-year-old from Mae Rim District. Bancha had been shot in the abdomen with a firearm and was discovered in a pool of blood near his vehicle, which had gone missing.

Following an investigation, officers arrested 50-year-old Chakrapan, a resident of Chom Thong. He confessed to the shooting, explaining that he and Bancha had been hunting together when it became too dark, and he accidentally shot Bancha instead of a target. Chakrapan then allegedly drove the victim’s vehicle away, though he later led authorities to the firearm used in the incident, which was found at a makeshift shelter in Ban Luang.

However, investigators remain skeptical of Chakrapan’s version of events. Police discovered that Bancha had been wanted on charges of attempted murder from a case in 2023 and had been evading arrest. Furthermore, Chakrapan and Bancha’s rival in the case were close friends, raising suspicions that the killing could have been an act of vengeance. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the true motive behind the shooting.

-- 2025-04-09