Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A man suspected of stealing electrical cables from a vacant home was fatally shot by police after attempting to flee arrest in Chiang Mai’s Mueang District. Authorities say the shooting was part of a tactical response, as the suspect was believed to be armed.

 

The incident occurred around 11:30 on 9 July, in a gated residential community in Suthep Subdistrict. Police were alerted by a security guard after spotting the suspect, estimated to be in his 20s, entering a two-storey unoccupied house under the guise of doing gardening work. The suspect allegedly used tools to break in and began cutting and collecting electrical wiring.

 

Officers from the Phuping Rajanivej Police Station arrived at the scene, where the suspect fled on foot. During the chase, officers reportedly fired their weapon in an attempt to disable the suspect. One of the bullets critically wounding him. He was rushed to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

 

At the scene, police found a black Honda Dream motorcycle (registration from Lamphun) parked outside the house. Tools including a knife, hammer, screwdriver, a sack and a bundle of electrical wires were discovered nearby, believed to have been used in the attempted theft.

 

Preliminary reports suggest the suspect posed as a gardener to gain access to the neighbourhood. When confronted by police, he allegedly attempted to escape and may have been armed, prompting the officers to respond with gunfire. A senior official from Provincial Police Region 5 confirmed that reports indicated the suspect was in possession of a firearm, though no identification documents were found on him and his identity remains unknown.

 

Body camera footage from the officers involved has not yet been released, as it is being treated as key evidence in the ongoing investigation.

 

Authorities have stated that the officer’s actions were in line with police protocol and self-defence procedures, but a formal inquiry into the shooting is expected.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-07-10

 

 

 

That's called 'Murder'