Crime Teen Killed in Shooting During Cannabis Party in Chaiyaphum

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Workpoint.

 

A 17-year-old schoolboy has died after being accidentally shot in the chest during a cannabis party in Chaiyaphum province. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning of 31 July, when a fellow teenager attempted to show off a homemade pistol, only for it to discharge and fatally strike his friend.

 

Pol Lt Sirichan Jandeesri, a duty investigator at Mueang Chaiyaphum Police Station, was notified by medical staff at Chaiyaphum Hospital that a young man had died of gunshot wounds upon arrival at the emergency room. The deceased was later identified as Siwat (surname withheld) 17, a school student. He had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the left side of his chest, with the bullet piercing his heart.

 

Standing outside the hospital’s emergency room and waiting to surrender was 18-year-old Tharanarin (surname withheld), a vocational student at a local technical college. He immediately admitted to being the one who fired the weapon.

 

According to Mr Tharanarin’s statement to police, a group of over ten male and female students from various institutions had gathered for a late-night party at a dormitory in the Non Hai community of Nai Mueang subdistrict. The gathering involved the consumption of kratom-laced drinks and cannabis.

 

At around 02:00, Mr Tharanarin said he stood up during the party and pulled out a locally-made .38 calibre pistol to show to his friends. However, the gun suddenly discharged. The bullet struck Mr Siwat, who had been sitting nearby playing on his mobile phone. He immediately collapsed, bleeding heavily and struggling to breathe. The group rushed him to hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

 

Police have taken all party attendees in for questioning and drug testing, which were negative for any other drugs. Mr Tharanarin has been charged with manslaughter and will face prosecution.

 

Authorities are continuing their investigation and the incident has sparked renewed concerns over youth access to illegal firearms and the increasing use of drugs among teenagers in provincial areas.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Workpoint 2025-08-01