Thai police have made a Phuket shooting arrest after detaining a Colombian national accused of killing an Iraqi man in the Patong tourist area on Saturday evening.
Arrest Made After Phuket Shooting Arrest Near Airport
Police arrested Fernando Estaid Guevara Sanchez, 39, a Colombian national, around 3am on Sunday. Officers located him at a homestay in Sakhu, a subdistrict near Phuket International Airport. In Thailand, a subdistrict is known as a tambon and forms part of a larger district.
Investigators said the suspect was preparing to leave the country. Records showed he arrived in Phuket on January 19 and held a booking on a Qatar Airways flight scheduled to depart Sunday morning.
The victim was identified as Ameer Mundher Mahmood, 24, an Iraqi national. He was shot in the back at close range while standing near a parked motorcycle on Sirirat Road in Patong shortly before sunset.
Sirirat Road runs through a busy part of Patong, a beach town popular with tourists. Patong sits within Kathu district, one of Phuket’s main administrative areas.
Emergency services rushed the victim to Patong Hospital. Doctors later pronounced him dead.
Manhunt and Phuket Shooting Arrest Timeline
Police launched a coordinated manhunt involving Patong police, Phuket provincial investigators, and regional police units from southern Thailand. After tracing the suspect’s movements, officers first deployed teams to Phuket International Airport.
Further investigation placed the suspect at an accommodation near the airport. Officers identified themselves, served an arrest warrant issued by the Phuket Provincial Court, and confirmed the suspect’s identity before taking him into custody.
Charges Filed After Phuket Shooting Arrest
Police transferred the suspect to Patong Police Station. Authorities charged him with premeditated murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and carrying a firearm in a public place without permission.
Investigators believe the killing is linked to a dispute involving illegal business activity. Police also believe contacts from central Thailand supplied the firearm used in the shooting.
Officers continue questioning the suspect with assistance from a Spanish-speaking interpreter. Thai authorities have contacted both the Iraqi and Colombian embassies.
The Phuket shooting arrest marks a key step in the investigation. Police said the case remains under active review as legal proceedings move forward and international coordination continues.
