A police sergeant in Nakhon Phanom died after his handgun accidentally discharged while he was cleaning it outside his home on 21 April. The bullet struck his chest, and despite urgent medical treatment at Nakhon Phanom Hospital, he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed the incident occurred at a housing estate on the bypass road between Ban Tha Khwai and Ban Noi Nong Khem in Nong Saeng subdistrict, Mueang district.

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Investigators identified the deceased as Pol Sgt Maj Phitsanu Tarawat, 45, an investigator attached to Mueang Nakhon Phanom Police Station. At the scene, officers found blood trails leading from the veranda to the road, along with a Sig Sauer handgun, a magazine containing ammunition and cleaning equipment placed on the bench seating. Forensic officers collected fingerprints and evidence as part of the examination.

Picture courtesy of Daily News

According to initial inquiries, the officer had suffered a fall from a tree over a year ago, leaving the right side of his body impaired and affecting his investigative duties. As a result, his superiors reassigned him to a custody role to allow time for recovery. On the day of the incident, he was cleaning his firearm while seated outside his house, as his wife, a nurse, watered plants nearby.

During the process of reassembling the weapon, a single shot was fired. The officer reportedly ran to his wife clutching his chest and said, “My gun went off, I am hurt,” before collapsing. His wife immediately rushed him to hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Police have documented the scene and will continue reviewing the circumstances to confirm the sequence of events. The findings are expected to inform internal safety reviews regarding firearm handling, particularly during maintenance procedures.

Daily News reported that authorities stated that further details will be released following the completion of the forensic examination and official report.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 22 Apr 2026

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Astounding. We have a few tales of policemen getting drunk and carrying their weapons while off duty, and here one is cleaning it while there are bullets in it and the safety is off. Are they mad?

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Astounding. We have a few tales of policemen getting drunk and carrying their weapons while off duty, and here one is cleaning it while there are bullets in it and the safety is off. Are they mad?

But? You must know the answer to that question. 😉

Can't see how it's possible to shoot yourself while cleaning.

First step is to remove mag, slide and barrel .... so how?

More likely suicide.

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.

2. Never point the weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.

3. Keep the weapon on safe until you are ready to fire.

4. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire.

...or something like that.

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A police sergeant in Nakhon Phanom died after his handgun accidentally discharged while he was cleaning it outside his home on 21 April. The bullet struck his chest, and despite urgent medical treatment at Nakhon Phanom Hospital, he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed the incident occurred at a housing estate on the bypass road between Ban Tha Khwai and Ban Noi Nong Khem in Nong Saeng subdistrict, Mueang district.

I've cleaned guns since I was a kid, and never, ever is there a way you get shot by "cleaning a gun."

Let me rewrite this:
"A police sergeant in Nakhon Phanom died after he loaded his handgun, racked a round into the chamber, and then did something really stupid which caused an "AD" while he was outside his home on 21 April."
-or-
"A police sergeant in Nakhon Phanom committed suicide outside his home on 21 April."

One of those is 100% more accurate. Some people shouldn't have guns.

Do Thai police know anything about firearm safety...this "accidental discharge seems to happen often.

2 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

Do Thai police know anything about firearm safety...this "accidental discharge seems to happen often.

How often does it happen ?

Do you have statistics/facts you could post up.

Knew several cops shot themselves in my time. One shot himself in the ass and the other shot himself on the thigh. Accidental discharges while cleaning does happen. This mostly happens before the weapon is disassembled. "Always presume any firearm is loaded". The photos shows two magazines so I presume the weapon was a pistol and not a revolver. Therefore, the round discharged accidentally before disassembly or it was intentional.

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Can't see how it's possible to shoot yourself while cleaning.

First step is to remove mag, slide and barrel .... so how?

More likely suicide.

they miss the first step.. and go straight to cleaning....I would go as far and suggest they are not taught about gun safety...

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

How often does it happen ?

Do you have statistics/facts you could post up.

No stats, as the RTP don't keep them...but I have lived in Thailand for many years....if you don't accept my comment, I don't care. Do you live in Thailand, and for how long.

You could do your own research.

start here

"thailand""police accidentally shoots himself"

6 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

No stats, as the RTP don't keep them...but I have lived in Thailand for many years....if you don't accept my comment, I don't care. Do you live in Thailand, and for how long.

You could do your own research.

start here

"thailand""police accidentally shoots himself"

Yeah newbie myself, bout 2 decades.

I dont recall reading about these hapenings more than a few times.

There have been a lot of cases of US cops killing themselves or their colleagues while cleaning guns in stations. A serious culprit in the past was the Glock models where you needed to pull the trigger to take them down. Fortunately that dangerous feature is not present in current Glock models but they still don't have safeties which results in many negligent discharges with a nervous cop's finger on the trigger without safety.

On 4/22/2026 at 5:18 AM, Georgealbert said:

During the process of reassembling the weapon, a single shot was fired.

Reassembling ?
Okay.
How exactly does one do that? By, what, reinserting the magazine before reattaching the slide while simultaneously having the noisy end pointed at one's chest?

bong rip gone wrong perhaps

On 4/22/2026 at 10:04 AM, connda said:

I've cleaned guns since I was a kid, and never, ever is there a way you get shot by "cleaning a gun."

Let me rewrite this:
"A police sergeant in Nakhon Phanom died after he loaded his handgun, racked a round into the chamber, and then did something really stupid which caused an "AD" while he was outside his home on 21 April."
-or-
"A police sergeant in Nakhon Phanom committed suicide outside his home on 21 April."

One of those is 100% more accurate. Some people shouldn't have guns.

Change the AD to an ND and I'm 100% with you

25 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

There have been a lot of cases of US cops killing themselves or their colleagues while cleaning guns in stations. A serious culprit in the past was the Glock models where you needed to pull the trigger to take them down. Fortunately that dangerous feature is not present in current Glock models but they still don't have safeties which results in many negligent discharges with a nervous cop's finger on the trigger without safety.

Not to put too fine a point on it but the trigger IS the safety on a Glock.
Thats part of what makes them so good.

Keep your booger hook off the trigger and you'll have no issues.