A late-night shooting at Pattaya Beach in Chonburi province on August 13, 2025, has prompted swift police action after two teen suspects were arrested. The 4:00 AM incident left a 19-year-old man unharmed when bullets pierced his clothing but missed his body; the victim later credited a protective amulet for his survival. Authorities say the attack stemmed from an ongoing social media feud and personal rivalry between rival groups.
Pattaya City Police, led by Deputy Investigation Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Arut Sapanon, moved quickly to identify and detain suspects, recover the weapon used, and begin a probe into the broader juvenile gang role. Investigators are pursuing additional members believed to have been involved and plan to handle the case with multidisciplinary and prosecutorial oversight because the suspects are minors.
Teen Shooting at Pattaya Beach Tied to Social Feud
The victim, identified as 19-year-old PanyaWit Jittathamset, was at Pattaya Beach celebrating Mother’s Day with his mother when the shooting occurred. He says he had posted a check-in on social media, inadvertently revealing his location to rivals; shortly after, a group approached and fired two shots toward him. Fortunately, no one was injured—PanyaWit reported that bullets passed through his clothing but missed his body, and he attributed his escape to a protective amulet he was wearing.
Police accounts and statements from those involved point to a feud that moved from online taunts to real-world hostility. Investigators believe the shooting was a targeted act carried out after the rival group spotted PanyaWit’s social-media check-in. The early-morning attack marked a dangerous escalation in hostilities between the parties, who had clashed in person and online in the months before the shooting.
Two Teen Suspects Arrested; Gun Linked to Friend
By 8:00 AM on the same day of the shooting, Pattaya police had identified and arrested a 16-year-old suspect known by the alias “Obas” at his home in Central Pattaya. A second youth, a 15-year-old identified as “Cha” (alias), was connected to the weapon used; investigators recovered a Glock 17 magazine-fed pistol from Cha’s residence in Soi Nern Plub Wan. Authorities say Cha had taken the firearm from his deceased grandfather, and the weapon was seized as evidence.
Both suspects are members of a group called “Arale” and were brought in for questioning at Pattaya City Police Station. Because they are juveniles, interrogations were conducted in the presence of their guardians, in line with Thai law. The pair have reportedly admitted involvement in the shooting, and police are preparing formal charges while coordinating with prosecutors and child-protection professionals.
Police Probe Juvenile Gang Role, Seek Additional Suspects
Investigators say the motive behind the attack is rooted in a longstanding rivalry that dates back to June 2025 and includes disputes over a woman and ongoing online harassment. Police records show the feud had previously resulted in the rival group paying more than 20,000 baht in compensation after an earlier altercation, but tensions continued. Officers are now pursuing six other members of the Arale group believed to have participated or aided in the incident.
Pattaya authorities emphasize that the investigation will involve multidisciplinary input and will follow legal protocols for juvenile suspects, including consultation with prosecutors and child welfare experts. Police have urged the public to avoid vigilantism, to use lawful channels to resolve disputes, and to be mindful of how social media can expose locations and amplify conflicts. Video evidence and earlier incidents—such as an alleged June 4 attack on PanyaWit’s motorcycle—are being reviewed as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The Pattaya shooting underscores how online provocation and personal rivalries can rapidly spill into dangerous real-world confrontations. Authorities say they will continue to pursue all involved parties and press charges where appropriate, while calling on community members to resolve disputes through legal means rather than violence.
As the investigation progresses, police reiterate the importance of reporting threats and criminal behavior to law enforcement and being cautious with social media check-ins that can disclose private locations. The case will move through the juvenile justice process with oversight to ensure proper handling of the suspects and support for victims.
