Police Launch Manhunt After Man Shot at 7-Eleven in Chiang Rai
Authorities in Chiang Rai have launched a manhunt after a 35-year-old man was shot multiple times outside a convenience store in Mae Chan District.
The incident occurred on Tuesday near the 7-Eleven at Sankong Market. Mae Chan Police Station received the alert through investigator Pol. Lt. Col. Boonchuay Kantawong, who immediately informed station chief Pol. Col. Kiattisak Jitprasan. An investigative team was dispatched to the scene.
When officers arrived, they discovered the victim, identified as Phongsawat, with gunshot wounds to both shoulders and his cheekbone. He was in critical condition and rushed to Mae Chan Hospital for emergency treatment.
CCTV footage from the area quickly helped police identify the suspect as 30-year-old Sarayut, a resident of Huai Khrai in Mae Sai. He was last seen fleeing on a blue Honda Giorno motorcycle with no license plate, heading along the Mae Chan–Mae Sai Road toward the Sankong intersection. Investigators are now reviewing additional footage to trace his movements.
Preliminary investigations indicate the shooting was linked to a dispute between the two men over drugs. Records show both have criminal histories connected to narcotics. Police confirmed that Sarayut is already wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for drug offenses.
According to witnesses, the victim and suspect first encountered each other inside the 7-Eleven. They then stepped outside, where their argument escalated into violence.
Authorities have launched a manhunt to track down the suspect and bring him to justice. Officers say they are intensifying efforts to gather evidence and will pursue charges under Thai law once Sarayut is apprehended.
The case underscores ongoing challenges in northern Thailand, where drug-related disputes often escalate into violence. Police in Mae Chan have urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any information that could lead to the suspect’s arrest.
