Armed man shot by police at hospital in Phetchaburi after standoff

A man armed with a gun and a knife caused havoc at Cha-am Hospital in Phetchaburi, resulting in a confrontation with the police that led to him being shot and injured.

The incident occurred yesterday evening when local police were alerted to a disturbance in the hospital’s in-patient building. On arrival, they discovered the man, identified as 34 year old Somchai, brandishing a 10-inch knife and behaving aggressively.

The situation escalated when Somchai threatened police officers, prompting them to shoot him six times, hitting him in the legs and nearby areas. An inspection of his body revealed 50 methamphetamine pills, a 9mm handgun, a knife, and a replica firearm, all of which were seized as evidence.

The commotion began earlier in the day when Somchai, in a state of frenzy, used a stone to damage the security guard booth at the Cha-am police checkpoint and threatened the officers inside with a gun. He then fled the scene in a white Toyota pickup, with an elevated carriage, licence plate number ถอ 6645 Bangkok, crashing into a police vehicle during his escape.

The pursuit continued, with Somchai causing another collision with a police car before heading to the Cha-am Hospital to visit his wife, who was hospitalised with kidney disease. Upon arrival, he once again became agitated, this time threatening security personnel and declaring he had drugs on him. This led to his attempted assault on hospital staff and subsequent shooting by responding police officers.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities piecing together the events that led to the violent outburst, reported KhaoSod.

The police are looking into Somchai’s background and the circumstances that led to the incident, including his mental health history and possible motives.

In related news, a violent confrontation erupted between a police officer and a restaurant owner in Udon Thani, resulting in both men sustaining serious injuries. The incident, which involved a gun and knife duel, occurred near a convenience store in the Non Sung Subdistrict on the evening of March 30.