Pattaya, Chonburi– A senior investigator from Pattaya City Police Station has been charged with murder and firearms offences after allegedly shooting and killing a 41-year-old cannabis shop owner during a late-night drinking dispute in the popular Walking Street area.
An update on this story involving the suspect’s initial court appearance and pleas are here.
The incident occurred around 1:06 a.m. on Sunday, April 19th, 2026, behind a cannabis shop at 104/3 in the Walking Street zone. According to police, the suspect, now publicly identified as Pol. Lt. Jirasak Srikatthanam, 54, also known as “Major Joe,” is a deputy superintendent in the investigation division at Pattaya City Police Station.
He had recently completed the Class 53 police sub-lieutenant training course the previous year and was generally regarded by colleagues as a diligent and good-natured officer. At approximately 9:00 a.m today, Pol. Col. Anak Sarathongyu, commander of Pattaya City Police Station, told The Pattaya News reporters that the suspect had been formally charged with murder as well as violations of the Firearms Act, including discharging a firearm in a public place and carrying a gun in public without reasonable cause.
A disciplinary committee has been established to investigate the case for serious misconduct, and the officer has already been ordered to leave government service pending the outcome of both the criminal and internal probes. He was immediately taken into custody and placed in a detention cell at the station.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the shooting stemmed from an alcohol-fuelled argument. The suspect, who was heavily intoxicated, reportedly became involved in a verbal dispute with friends while drinking. The victim, the owner of the nearby cannabis shop and not originally part of the dispute, attempted to intervene to calm the situation.
Surveillance camera footage reviewed by police shows the suspect arguing with a friend wearing a white shirt. The victim, who had removed his own shirt earlier, stepped in, raised his hands in a traditional Thai “wai” gesture to plead for peace, and tried to disarm the suspect. Moments later, the suspect fired his service pistol, striking the victim. The victim staggered and collapsed on the ground before being rushed to hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries from two gunshot wounds to the torso.
Pol. Col. Anek stated that the exact circumstances leading to the fatal shooting are still under detailed investigation, particularly how the dispute escalated to the point where a firearm was used.
The case has shocked local residents and the law enforcement community in Pattaya, especially as it occurred amid Songkran holiday celebrations when alcohol consumption is typically high.
The investigation continues, with authorities gathering additional witness statements and forensic evidence. The suspect remains in police custody.
