NAKHON SAWAN, Thailand — A retired police officer has surrendered to authorities after allegedly shooting his own son dead during a violent altercation inside a family home in Phaisali district on April 2.
Police from Phaisali Police Station were alerted to the incident at a wooden two-storey house in Village 7, Wang Nam Lat subdistrict, and rushed to the scene along with forensic officers, a duty doctor from Phaisali Hospital, and rescue workers from the Rom Sai Nakhon Sawan Foundation.
Inside the house, officers found the body of Nattaphon, 38, lying in a storage room at the rear of the property. He had sustained seven gunshot wounds to the arm and torso and was pronounced dead at the scene. A knife was found in his right hand, while eight 9mm shell casings were recovered nearby.
The shooter was identified as Bunpheng, 64, a retired police sub-lieutenant, who later turned himself in and admitted to shooting his son. He also surrendered the 9mm handgun used in the incident, stating it was his former service weapon.
He reportedly told police, “This is the gun that killed my son.”
Witnesses, including a nearby food vendor, said they heard a violent argument followed by multiple gunshots. A relative was seen running out of the house in tears shortly after the incident, stating that the son had been shot.
Investigators said the suspect called police himself after the shooting and did not attempt to flee.
According to police, the conflict stemmed from ongoing family tensions. The victim reportedly had a history of drug use and previous arrests and had allegedly demanded money from his mother prior to the incident. When refused, he became aggressive and allegedly attempted to attack his mother and others in the house with a knife, and also tried to access his father’s firearm.
Police said the father intervened, stating he acted after fearing for his life and the safety of other family members. “He was trying to grab the gun,” the suspect reportedly told investigators, adding that he believed he would have been killed if he did not act.
Neighbors described the retired officer as normally calm but said the son frequently caused disturbances when visiting the family, often demanding money and becoming violent when refused.
Police have charged the suspect with intentional homicide while further legal proceedings continue. The firearm used was a legally registered weapon previously owned during his service. Authorities said the case is still under investigation as evidence is being reviewed before further action is taken.
