Gun Attack Riddles Pickup Truck in South

Picture courtesy of Khaosod

Gunmen opened fire from a sedan on 23 January 2026, riddling a pickup truck with bullets on a road in Phatthalung province, in an incident police believe may be linked to so-called grey business activities. The shooting occurred near a curve on the Ko Thong Som–Khlong Chaloem road in Moo 15 of Khok Muang subdistrict, close to Ko Thong Som temple. No injuries were reported, but the attack prompted a police investigation into the suspects and possible motives.

Police from Khao Chaison station said officers arriving at the scene found a four-door pickup truck with Phatthalung registration plates peppered with bullet holes. The driver, Thanawat Thiapphut, 31 and his wife, Anongnat, 29, fled the vehicle after the shooting and have not yet been located for questioning. Investigators said the couple had been travelling from a rented house to their home near the boundary of Khao Chaison and Tamot districts, about three kilometres from the site of the attack.

According to police, a bronze-coloured sedan followed the pickup truck before pulling alongside it at the curve. The occupants of the sedan allegedly fired about five shots at the pickup truck before fleeing the scene. Officers said the timing and manner of the attack suggested it was deliberate and targeted.

Col. Paiboon Boonrat, chief of Khao Chaison police, said investigators believe the motive may be connected to grey-area business dealings. He said police were gathering CCTV footage from nearby locations and surrounding roads to identify the suspects and the vehicle involved. Officers are also working to trace the movements of the pickup truck and its occupants before the attack.

Police said the same sedan is suspected of involvement in an earlier shooting on 17 January 2026 in Khao Chaison subdistrict. In that incident, a house in Moo 1 was struck by gunfire, with CCTV footage showing a sedan firing 23 shots at the property before driving away. No injuries were reported in that case either.

The homeowner, Phairoh Suebsom, 62, said she and her five children were asleep when the gunshots rang out. She said they were too afraid to leave the house and that she had no known disputes with anyone. Phairoh said she believed the shooting may have been intended as intimidation rather than a direct attempt to cause harm.

Khoasod reported that Police said investigations into both incidents are ongoing, with officers seeking to establish whether the shootings are linked and to obtain arrest warrants once suspects are identified. Authorities said increased patrols and further evidence gathering would continue in the area.

Key Takeaways

• A pickup truck was shot at from a sedan on 23 January 2026 in Phatthalung, with no injuries reported.

• Police believe the attack may be linked to grey business activities and a similar shooting on 17 January 2026.

• Investigators are analysing CCTV footage and attempting to locate the victims and suspects.

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod 2026-01-25