A former ranger was shot dead at a tea shop in Pattani's Panare district on Sunday afternoon, police said.
Pol Col Manit Yimsai, the Panare police chief, said the incident occurred at 1.30pm at the tea shop in Village Group 1 in tambon Ban Nam Bo.
Surapol Daengprathet, 35, a former ranger, was having tea with his neighbours when two men arrived on a motorcycle and the pillion rider walked up to him and opened fire with a 9mm pistol.
Surapol, a Buddhist Thai, was shot in the head and body. He was killed instantly.
The attackers fled on the motorcycle.