The incident occurred at about 3:06pm in a room at the Andaman Apartment complex in Moo 4, opposite the bus terminal on Chao Fa East Rd, police reconfirmed. (See initial report here.)
Phuket Provincial Police confirmed that Pol Lt Prajak Thahanthai, Deputy Inspector with the Narcotics Suppression Unit, was critically injured in the gunfight while leading a sting operation to arrest suspected drug dealers.
He was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
According to initial reports, police moved to search the suspects’ hotel room as part of an expanded investigation into a drug network. During the operation, one of the suspects attempted to flee into the bathroom and opened fire on officers, fatally striking Lt Prajak.
Officers immediately returned fire, killing the gunman.
Police initially reported that two people were injured, but later confirmed that only Lt Prajak had been struck, along with the suspect who was shot dead at the scene. The identities of the other individuals present in the room have not yet been released.
Wichit Police Chief Pol Col Somsak Thongkliang, together with 20 patrol officers, secured the scene while investigators began gathering evidence.
Present at the location this afternoon were Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum and senior investigators including Pol Lt Col Narong Muangduang, who is leading the case.
Pol Maj Gen Sinlert has ordered a full review of the operation and procedures, while extending condolences to Lt Prajak’s family. His body will be taken to his home province of Trang for funeral rites.
Police have yet to release further details on the suspect or whether additional arrests are expected in connection with the case.