Capt Chatri Choowichien of the Thalang Police received a call from Thalang Hospital at 6am reporting that the emergency room medical staff were treating a man for a gunshot wound.
Police named the victim as Chayan Srinuan, 23, a food vendor at Nai Yang Beach.
Mr Chayan had been shot once in his lower left torso. The bullet exited near his genitals.
Mr Chayan has since been transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town for treatment.
“We have to wait for the victim to recover from his injury to question him about the shooting. As the bullet exited his body, we do not know the type of gun used in the attack,” Capt Chatri said.
“What we know so far is that Mr Chayan was riding on the back of a motorbike driven by his friend near the airport when another motorbike pulled up alongside and one of the men on that motorbike pulled out a gun and shot at Mr Chayan,” Col Chatri said.
“His friend is still shocked about the incident and could not recall what make of motorbike the suspects were on. As the attack happened in the Sakoo area, we have notified the Sakoo Police to investigate,” he added.