Chiang Rai Police Investigate Mysterious Forest Shooting

CHIANG RAI – Local police in Ban Du, Chiang Rai, have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of a man found dead with a gunshot wound to the head. The grim discovery was made in the early morning hours of September 7, 2026, by a local villager walking to a garden near the Ban Du municipality. Investigators found no bullet casings at the scene, a detail that has raised questions. The victim is strongly believed to be a 34-year-old man originally from Udon Thani province, though his identity has not been officially released. He was found wearing a long-sleeved jacket, blue jeans, and hiking boots, carrying a large backpack and a small chest bag containing coins and a watch. Notably, his personal mobile phone was missing. Approximately 100 meters away, near the entrance to a dirt road, police discovered a parked motorcycle. Detectives suspect this vehicle belonged to the deceased. The motorcycle was equipped with a phone holder, but the phone itself was absent. Forensic teams and medical examiners meticulously searched the area, including the paths near the local landfill, but found no signs of a physical struggle beyond the fatal gunshot wound. Police Colonel Anusorn Nokhumbut, leading the investigation at the Ban Du Police Station, stated that his team is working diligently to confirm the victim's identity and is delving into his personal background and routines for any clues. Investigators are mapping the victim's travel routes leading up to his death, seeking to understand why he was in this isolated forest area and who he last communicated with. The incident has unsettled the typically peaceful Ban Du community, with residents now feeling more cautious when traveling alone on rural forest trails. Police are appealing to the public for any helpful information. Authorities are reviewing local security camera footage in hopes of identifying the victim or the attacker. The isolated nature of the crime scene, typically used by farmers and waste management workers between two small villages, makes finding direct eyewitnesses challenging. Police remain hopeful for a swift resolution to this tragic case, believing the missing mobile phone could be a crucial piece of evidence as the investigation slowly pieces together this complex puzzle. Source: Chiang Rai Times