A former community leader allegedly carried out a deadly armed attack that left a male journalist dead and two women critically injured before fleeing the scene on a motorcycle in Lampang Province, Thailand.
Police said the incident occurred at about 9.30pm on April 26, 2026, near a food stall opposite the former Intertech College of Lampang in the Sripongchai community, Mueang District. The attack involved both a firearm and a knife.
Officers from Khelang Nakhon Police Station, forensic teams, a pathologist from Lampang Hospital, and rescue personnel were deployed to the scene following reports of gunfire and a violent assault.
A 50-year-old man, identified as a local journalist and hotel employee, was found dead at the scene after being shot once in the chest, with the bullet exiting through his back.
Two women were also seriously injured in the attack. A 53-year-old female journalist sustained multiple knife wounds to her head, back, and hands, while her 49-year-old sister suffered severe injuries to her head and body. Both were rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, a former community chairman who operated a noodle shop near the location, had previously been involved in disputes over parking. Tensions reportedly escalated earlier in the evening, with one of the victims warning a relative about a potential confrontation.
Police said the male journalist was shot after stepping out to assess the situation. The suspect then allegedly entered the premises and attacked the female journalist with a machete as she tried to hide, before also injuring her sister when she rushed in to help.
The attacker fled the scene on a black Honda Scoopy i motorcycle. His wife told investigators she was inside the shop during the incident and only realised what was happening after hearing gunshots and seeing the assault unfold.
Authorities are actively tracking down the suspect, while media colleagues have expressed shock and grief over the incident, calling for swift justice for the victims.
