Bangkok police charge three youths in connection with fatal shooting of poly college student

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Police charge three youths in connection with fatal shooting of poly college student

By Kornkamon Aksorndech 
The Nation

 

 

Police have arrested and charged three suspects linked to the August 28 fatal shooting of a 19-year-old polytechnic college student, Noppakao Sukhontharat, at Soi Rat Uthit 23 in Bangkok’s Min Buri district, deputy city police chief Pol Maj-General Sompong Chingduang said on Monday.

 

An initial police investigation had found that the motive behind the killing was not a brawl between rival colleges but a previous personal conflict between the Soi Rat Uthit 23 youths’ group, of which Noppakao was a member, and the Soi Rat Uthit 26 youths’ group, of which the three suspects were members, Sompong said.

 

Police would not be taking the suspects to perform a crime re-enactment because the captured youths had refused to do so, as per their rights, he added.

 

Sompong participated in the Min Buri police’s interrogation of the suspects, namely, alleged shooter Wirat Rassamee, 19, and two alleged accomplices – Jiratthitikan Preungkan-ngan, 19, and another boy, aged under 18. 

 

 

The three suspects – one of whom, Wirat, has a police record for a prior crime of assault – were arrested, and police seized a pistol as the alleged murder weapon bought via the Internet, plus 16 bullets, two full-head helmets and two motorcycles, the deputy Bangkok police chief said.

 

The information they gave also led police to retrieve the victim’s shotgun and a cartridge they had taken and disposed of in an overgrown spot in Soi Ramkhamhaeng 68. 

 

Wirat has been charged with murder, illegal possession of a gun, and taking a gun to a public place without sound reason, while the other two youths have been charged with aiding him in committing the crime.

 

Police are looking for a fourth person – alleged getaway motorcycle rider Weerasak Boonpeng, 19 – whose relatives contacted them by telephone, promising to bring him in soon, Sompong said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30353617

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-09-03

 

[Arkady]

These murderous young thugs are well armed now with Glocks, as opposed to the home made .22 single shot pen guns of the past. No comment from police on the provenance of the Glock which looks like a genuine one.

 

A lot of imported firearms now leak out from the Interior Ministry’s massive welfare firearms procurement scheme for civil servants. Even village community security volunteers qualify for these discounted weapons with the village headman’s approval. As well as all state enterprise employees. Many are reported lost and find their way into the black market. The loser can simply buy another one.

[hotchilli]

Police are looking for a fourth person – alleged getaway motorcycle rider Weerasak Boonpeng, 19 – whose relatives contacted them by telephone, promising to bring him in soon, Sompong said.

 

Instead of doing their job and going to find him themselves!

[Arkady]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Police are looking for a fourth person – alleged getaway motorcycle rider Weerasak Boonpeng, 19 – whose relatives contacted them by telephone, promising to bring him in soon, Sompong said.

 

Instead of doing their job and going to find him themselves!

He may have fled upcountry and police don't have the budget to travel upcountry unless the victim's family pays or they get a rocket from on high which motivates them to find the budget.  There seems to be little coordination between police forces in different areas. I would guess that Mr Weerasak is at the address that is on his tabien baan trying to get a good story together, or at least a better one than is currently in the media.