Two Masked Assailants Shoot School Director Dead in Meeting Room at Mae Fah Luang, Chiang Rai - Thairath English

A brazen incident occurred when two masked assailants stormed in and shot a "school director" dead inside a meeting room in Mae Fah Luang district, Chiang Rai province. Police are urgently investigating and pursuing the gunmen and a suspicious taxi.

On 30 Oct 2026, a shocking incident took place at Ban Huai Sing Chinese School, Village 27, Mae Salong Nai Subdistrict, Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai province. The body of Mr. Sirisit Ratiphatkul, the school director, was found after being shot dead with a 9mm firearm. Mae Fah Luang police are currently intensifying investigations to apprehend the perpetrators for prosecution.

According to a 49-year-old head construction worker at the school and eyewitness, he observed two unfamiliar men wandering around the scene before sitting by the area for nearly 20 to 30 minutes around 10:00 a.m. Initially, the workers thought they were job applicants since strangers often come to observe the work, so they paid no particular attention.

At about 11:00 a.m., while working, the witness and other workers heard two consecutive gunshots. They rushed to check in front of the school’s meeting room and found Director Sirisit collapsed in a pool of blood by the door. They immediately fetched the deputy teacher for help and rode a motorcycle to summon a doctor. The victim’s son arrived and urgently took him to Mae Fah Luang Hospital, but he later succumbed to his injuries.

The eyewitness added that both assailants wore hats that fully concealed their faces. After the shooting, they fled quickly through the back of the school. Additionally, a suspicious yellow-blue taxi was seen parked near the school gate around the same time, with a man getting out to talk on his phone just before the gunshots.

Police Colonel Sorachai Kanjanarujiwat, chief of Mae Fah Luang Police Station, along with Deputy Superintendent Patchsophon Nissai and forensic teams, have inspected the scene and gathered evidence. Investigations continue to determine the exact motive, and authorities are intensifying efforts to capture the gunmen and bring them to justice.

Community inquiries revealed the victim had a past prison sentence for drug charges about 20 years ago and was released in 2019. He subsequently took the position of school director until now. It is suspected that the motive may relate to past issues and possibly the victim’s blunt manner, which might have caused resentment leading to revenge. However, investigators will continue probing to clarify the exact cause.