Picture courtesy of Khoasod.

 

A night out at a popular Songkran-themed event ended in tragedy when a heated argument between two groups turned deadly in a Bangkok car park. A 36-year-old bar owner was fatally shot in the early hours of the morning of 6 April, by a 27-year-old food vendor following a confrontation allegedly sparked by a drunken altercation between two women.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 00:20, in the parking lot of Tawanna 2 shopping complex, located in the Bang Kapi district of the capital. Officers from Lat Phrao Police Station, including Pol. Lt. Rattaphum Chamamek, responded swiftly to reports of gunfire in the area.

 

 

When police arrived, they found a pool of blood at the scene, but the victim, Mr. Jaturawit, also known as “Top”, had already been rushed to Vejthani Hospital. He had sustained two gunshot wounds from a .38-calibre revolver, one beneath the left ribcage and another on the right side. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

 

According to witnesses and initial police reports, the shooting occurred shortly after a dispute between two women, one from each party, who reportedly bumped into each other while leaving the Songkran festival at the venue. The argument escalated and continued as the two groups approached their vehicles.

 

Officers on patrol in the vicinity reported hearing gunshots and were alerted by bystanders that the shooter had fled to a white Toyota Corolla Cross parked near the scene. Police quickly surrounded the vehicle and detained the suspect, later identified as Mr. Kittiphum, who was found seated in the back seat with a head injury.

 

Inside the vehicle, officers recovered a locally made silver .38 revolver. The weapon, placed beside the suspect, had one remaining live round in its chamber and five spent shells. All items were seized as evidence.

 

During interrogation, Mr. Kittiphum confessed to the shooting, stating that he worked with his mother selling fermented rice noodles and had attended the “Khot Piak” Songkran event at Tawanna earlier that night with a group of male and female friends. He claimed the argument started when his female companion was involved in a verbal altercation with a woman in Mr. Jaturawit’s group. As tensions rose while the parties were returning to their cars, the situation spiralled out of control, leading him to draw his weapon and shoot.

 

Police have charged Mr. Kittiphum with murder and illegal possession of a firearm. He remains in custody as the investigation continues.

 

Senior police officials, including Pol. Maj. Gen. Thanantorn Rattanasitthiphak, Metropolitan Police Division 4 Commander, and forensic teams from the Police General Hospital, are overseeing the case. Authorities have stated that they are reviewing CCTV footage from the scene and interviewing additional witnesses to build a complete picture of the events leading up to the fatal shooting.

 

-- 2025-04-07

 

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

who was found seated in the back seat with a head injury

 

Another case of starting a fight, coming off worse, and murdering the other guy in response?  Murder seems so easy to get to in Thailand.