PHUKET: Two people have been detained in connection with the street shooting in Patong early yesterday morning (Aug 3) that left two people in hospital with gunshot wounds.
Patong Police yesterday questioned the two injured in the shooting, which they now report occurred near a rented room on 50 Pi Rd.
Yesterday, the scene of the shooting was reported as near an intersection on Petchkut Rd. Of note, 50 Pi Rd and Petchkut Rd intersect in the hills at the southern end of Patong.
Police named the two injured as Nuttawut Hemra, 20, from Trang, who was shot in his right leg, and Jirawat Santirak, 20, registered as living in Ratsada, who was shot in his left hand. Both are in care at Patong Hospital.
After questioning the two at Patong Hospital, police believe six people were involved in the attack.
Two arrived at the scene on a motorbike. They were named as Chalermchon Atsorn, 37, registered as living in Srisoonthorn, and Sukanya Suwannoi, 28, from Nong Khai.
These two have been detained for questioning, Patong Police confirmed.
Four others involved arrived in a black Honda sedan. The identity of the driver has yet to be confirmed, but Sukanya Saksri, 26, registered as living on 50 Pi Rd Patong, was reported to have been the front passenger.
The two others in the car were named only as “Mr A” (real name not yet known) and ‘Eak’ Mangkorn, who was named as the shooter.
However, in a later report police named the shooter only as “Mr Tun”, whose real name they said was not known.
According to Patong Police the incident began when Patcharadanai Kingchampa, so far not named as a participant to the shooting incident, contacted Sukanya Saksri via Facebook and asked her to pay B3,000.
This led to the “group” being “dissatisfied”, police said. What the B3,000 was supposed to be payment for was not mentioned.
The group went to the rented room on 50 Pi Rd where Patcharadanai lives. He was home, but refused to open the door, police reported.
The group tried to force open the door, but failed.
Patcharadanai called his brother, Panthakarn Kingchampa, who soon arrived at the room with about seven friends.
However, the group attempting to enter the room had a firearm. They threatened Panthakarn and his friends, and took Panthakarn away in the black Honda car initially reported as fleeing the scene of the shooting.
While driving off, a person known by police only as “Mr Tun” used the firearm to shoot at Panthakarn’s friends, injuring Nuttawut and Jirawat, police said.
The group drove across the island and let Panthakarn out of the car in front of Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town.
Police said they were continuing to question Chalermchon and Sukanya and continuing their investigation.
