Police Hunt Two Gunmen After Shooting at Village Head in Phatthalung
Two gunmen on a motorcycle fired a shotgun at the house of a newly appointed village head in Tha Kae, Phatthalung, damaging the property but injuring no one. Police recovered six spent shells and CCTV footage showing the suspects, and say they expect to make arrests soon. The village head said he has no personal enemies and suspects the attack may be related to recent anti‑drug and weapons operations in the area.
At approximately 02:40 on 18 October 2025, police in Phatthalung received a report that two men on a motorcycle had opened fire with a 12‑gauge shotgun on the house of village head Thawat Songnual, 53, in Tha Kae subdistrict. Officers found six spent shotgun shells on the road in front of the house and noted bullet damage to the door, windows and walls; the front window was shattered. Thawat said he and his wife were asleep when they heard five to six shots around 01:30, woke up and discovered the damage. He stated he had no personal disputes with anyone and speculated the attack might be linked to recent police operations targeting drugs and illegal weapons in Tha Kae, in which he could be suspected of having tipped off authorities. Thawat had only been appointed village head two months earlier after his predecessor’s term ended. Surveillance footage showed the two suspects arriving on a motorcycle, firing at the house, then riding away. Later that morning, Phatthalung provincial police commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Chawalit Phet sri pia, together with forensic officers and investigative units from Phatthalung and Region 9, returned to the scene to collect additional evidence. He said investigators need time but are confident they will identify the gunmen soon because the CCTV images are clear. While a motive has not been established, both the village head and police said the shooting does not appear to stem from personal or political conflict.
