The thief was later identified as Suphat Luengphetngarm. A bystander was also injured by a stray bullet during a gunfight between Suphat and Pol Senior Sgt-Major Phinij Sitthiwat, a traffic policeman on duty near the Yaowaraj Gold Shop in central Chiang Mai.

Suphat initially used a replica gun to rob the shop but later took a pistol from shop-owner Wanna Saengta, who had taken it from a drawer to threaten him, and fired one shot into her chest.

Suphat later ran from the shop with gold ornaments worth more than Bt1 million.

The woman was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

On his way to his motorcycle, Suphat was confronted by the officer, and they exchanged fire. Suphat rode away, and Phinij shot him in the back and head.

Police said Suphat had owned a computer repair shop in Muang district but did not know why he had robbed the shop.

A forensic test is under way to determine whether the bystander was injured by a bullet from the robber's or the officer's gun.