Blood Feud Over Inheritance: Man Shoots Brother-in-Law and Young Niece in Land Dispute

Picture courtesy of Amarin

A bitter inheritance dispute turned violent in Surat Thani province on 21 May, when a man opened fire on his brother-in-law and three-year-old niece, seriously injuring both, in a chilling escalation of a long-running family feud.

Police were alerted to the shooting around 15:20, at Soi 9, Khun Thale Sai Tri, Mueang District. Investigators from Khun Thale Police Station and forensic officers rushed to the scene, a raised, single-storey concrete house, where they found two victims lying wounded on the concrete beside the home.

The victims were identified as Mr. Phattharakon, 28, who suffered a critical gunshot wound above his right eye and Miss Panicha, aged 3 years and 5 months, who had been shot in the back of the head. Both were rushed to Surat Thani Hospital by emergency rescue teams. The child’s mother, Ms. Sutthida, 30, was unharmed, the victims were her husband and daughter.

The suspected gunman, Mr. Natthaphat, 38, later surrendered to police with a .38 calibre handgun. He is the half-brother of Ms. Sutthida and the uncle of the injured child.

According to Ms. Jaruwan 28, a cousin of Ms. Sutthida, the dispute stemmed from an ongoing conflict over the division of inherited land. The suspect and his half-sister had been involved in a legal battle after their father allocated equal shares of land to both children. Mr. Natthaphat, however, reportedly demanded the entire inheritance, prompting a court case which was due to be resolved next month.

Jaruwan stated that at the time of the incident, the family had just returned home from a local market. Mr. Phattharakon was feeding snacks to his daughter when the suspect approached and began firing without warning.

Police are continuing their investigation, while the suspect remains in custody awaiting formal charges. 
 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-05-22.