A 34-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of his 53-year-old stepfather in Cha-am, Phetchaburi Province. The suspect, identified as the adopted son of the victim, confessed to police that his motive stemmed from ongoing family disputes, including conflicts over land and a history of domestic violence involving his mother. The incident occurred late on the night of September 14, and the arrest was made the following day after police questioned the suspect.
Police in Cha-am responded to a report that Mr. Sanit (surname withheld), aged 53, was shot and killed at his home in Rai Mai Phatthana Subdistrict, Cha-am District, in the middle of a pineapple plantation. The crime took place in the late hours of September 14, and the victim was found dead from a gunshot wound of unknown caliber. The investigation led officers to Mr. Chumphon (surname withheld), aged 34, the adopted son of the deceased. Under interrogation, Mr. Chumphon admitted to shooting Mr. Sanit with a shotgun, citing long-standing tensions within the family as the cause. He told police that Mr. Sanit had repeatedly assaulted his mother, Ms. Pim (surname withheld), and that disputes over the sale of land contributed to his decision to commit the crime.
According to the confession, after shooting Mr. Sanit, Mr. Chumphon discarded the weapon in a nearby pineapple plantation, located about 2 kilometers from the crime scene. He then returned home and acted as if nothing had occurred until police detained him for questioning.
Authorities report that the suspect was charged with premeditated murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and carrying a firearm in a public area without proper authorization. Police later escorted Mr. Chumphon to the site where he had disposed of the weapon and conducted a reenactment of the crime at the victim’s home. It was reported that the shooting stemmed not only from the land dispute but also from ongoing domestic quarrels within the family. Local officials confirmed that legal proceedings against the suspect are now underway.