Manhunt Leads to Fatal Encounter
Thananchai Manmak, a suspect in the fatal shooting of a highway police officer and injuring another at a party in Nakhon Pathom, was killed in a gunfight with police in Tha Rua district, Kanchanaburi province, on Friday morning. Thananchai was wanted under a court warrant for the crime. Police from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and Provincial Police Region 9 conducted a manhunt that led to the fatal encounter.
The Tragic Incident at the Party
Pol Maj Siwakorn Saibua, chief of Highway Police Station 1 of the Highway Police Sub-division 2, was killed, and Pol Lt Col Wasin Panpee, deputy commander of the Highway Police Sub-division 2, was seriously injured during a dinner party hosted by Praween Chankhlai, also known as Kamnan Nok, in tambon Thakong in Muang district, Nakhon Pathom province. Several other highway police officers were present at the event.
The 45-year-old gunman, Thananchai, was reportedly working for Kamnan Nok, 35. After the incident, the Nakhon Pathom Court issued arrest warrants for both Thananchai and Mr. Praween. Thananchai faced charges of murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, while Mr. Praween was charged with ordering the crime.
Investigation Handover and Praween’s Surrender
The case was transferred to the CSD. Mr. Praween surrendered to police on Thursday evening, denying the charge and claiming that Thananchai had acted independently without his involvement. However, Thananchai managed to evade capture until Friday morning.
The Fatal Encounter in Tha Rua
At 5.45 am on Friday, a Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police team laid siege to an abandoned mess hall behind Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang in Tha Rua, where Thananchai was hiding. When asked to surrender, Thananchai opened fire, attempting to escape, which resulted in a brief firefight. He was found dead next to a Ford Ranger pickup truck that he had used in his escape.
Investigation into Highway Police Officers at the Party
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, acting commander of the Highway Police Division, ordered an investigation into the highway police officers who attended the party hosted by Kamnan Nok, which led to the tragic incident. The investigation committee, led by Pol Col Nathapong Pitabutr, deputy commander of the Highway Police Division, is tasked with determining the cause of the shooting and why the other police officers at the party did not intervene to prevent it.
Keywords
- Highway police
- Gunfight
- Casualties
- Manhunt
- Investigation
- Crime Suppression Division
