Eighteen Teens Arrested After Thonburi Rival Gang Shooting

Photo via KhaoSod

Police in Thonburi have arrested eighteen teenagers following a violent clash between rival groups near a hospital. The altercation involved a shotgun and left an 18-year-old vocational student seriously injured, prompting swift police action.

The incident unfolded at 2 am on March 9, when emergency responders, including officers from Lak Song Police Station and Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers, arrived at the scene. They discovered the victim with critical injuries, having sustained nine shotgun pellets to the back and ribcage. He was promptly taken to Kasemrad Hospital in Bang Khae for treatment.

Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom from the Metropolitan Police Bureau directed Lak Song officers to thoroughly investigate. The diligent work led to the arrest of 18 teenagers involved. The police also confiscated eight motorcycles, a homemade shotgun, a 12-gauge shotgun shell, and clothing linked to the incident.

Preliminary investigations suggested the confrontation began with taunts directed at the victims, who were on two motorcycles. The verbal dispute quickly escalated into a chase, culminating in the use of the shotgun.

The arrested teens now face serious charges, including attempted murder, illegal firearm possession, carrying firearms in public without a valid reason, and discharging a firearm in a public area. The suspects and evidence have been turned over to Lak Song Police Station for further investigations, where multidisciplinary professionals will aid in prosecutions.

The swift arrests highlight the authorities' decisive response to youth violence, emphasizing public safety and the importance of curbing such dangerous altercations, reported The Thaiger.