Man Shot Dead After Arriving to Meet Fake Girlfriend in Pattaya
Man Shot Dead After Arriving to Meet Fake Girlfriend in Pattaya
PATTAYA, Thailand, May 10, 2026 — A man was shot dead in Pattaya early Saturday after being lured to a roadside meeting spot through a messaging account believed to have been used to impersonate a woman he had been dating, police said.
The shooting occurred at around 3:56 a.m. in Sukhumvit Pattaya Soi 15/12 in Na Kluea subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province.
The victim, identified only as Apichai, 34, was found lying face down beside the road with a gunshot wound to the head.
Police recovered a .38-calibre shell casing from the scene while the gunman fled before officers arrived.
Witnesses told investigators they heard a single gunshot before discovering the body.
According to police, the victim had travelled to the location after receiving a location pin from a woman he believed to be his girlfriend.
A nephew who accompanied Apichai told investigators the pair arrived in a black sedan and noticed a white car parked nearby.
While he was paying the driver, a young man allegedly approached and pointed a firearm at him, ordering him not to move.
The nephew said Apichai then walked toward the white sedan expecting to meet the woman before another man rushed toward him. A gunshot was heard moments later, and the victim collapsed.
He fled the scene and later informed relatives about the shooting, police said.
Apichai’s sister told investigators that he had been in a relationship with a woman for about a year and frequently visited her.
Police reviewing CCTV footage said a white sedan carrying three young men had arrived at the scene earlier.
Investigators said footage showed two men in white shirts waiting near the roadside while another suspect dressed in black hid nearby.
When the victim arrived, one of the men allegedly approached and assaulted him moments before the shooting occurred.
Police believe the killing may have stemmed from a romantic dispute after investigators discovered confrontational messages allegedly exchanged between the victim and rivals through the woman’s account before the meeting was arranged.
Authorities suspect the encounter was planned as an ambush.
Police said suspects had been identified and efforts to locate and arrest those involved were ongoing.
