Noisy Phuket Teens Survive Shotgun Blast

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Noisy Phuket teens survive shotgun blast

PHUKET: -- A teenage couple out joyriding and lighting firecrackers last night sustained injuries from a shotgun blast that police think was intended as a warning shot.

Phuket City Police received a 191 emergency report of the shooting just before midnight.

Phuket City Police Superintendent Wanchai Ekpornpit led officials to the scene in front to the Rachada Pub, located along Bangyai Canal on Takuapa Road in Phuket Town.

By the time they arrived the victims had already been rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital for treatment.

They were later identified as Phuket residents Ayuwat Ruengnak, 15, and his female partner Sumontha Khamkaew, 16.

Witnesses told police that the victims were among a number of teenagers who passed by the area on motorcycles lighting off firecrackers as they passed.

When the gang came by for a second pass, the sound of a shotgun blast was heard.

The young couple managed to drive on to Vachira Phuket Hospital where Ayuwat was treated for five shotgun pellet wounds to the torso and Sumontha for a single wound to the hand.

A search of the area where the shooting took place failed to uncover any evidence that might help identify the shooter.

The believe the weapon was a homemade shotgun.

Police think the shot was probably fired as a warning, possibly by someone fed up with the racket the youths were making at such a late hour.

Ayuwat admitted to police that he and his friends were riding around and playing with firecrackers to amuse themselves.

Phuket residents should brace themselves for the sound of firecrackers as shrines around the island are busy preparing for the annual Vegetarian Festival that officially begins on October 8.

Scores of people are injured every year by fireworks during the annual festival.

As in years past, police have warned they will arrest anyone found selling firecrackers without a license. They also say their use should be restricted to traditional shrine activities or street processions.

Spectators and passers-by are warned to take particular care when others, often teenagers, are throwing the lighted explosives at each other.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-09-28

[TAWP]

Som nam na...

[onnut]

they will not do that again!

Glad they were not more seriously hurt though! they were young afterall.

[OzMick]

I wonder if they are still amused? I also wonder if Ayuwat Ruengnak, 15, has a motorcycle licence. If the police charged under-age and unlicenced riders amusing themselves with anti-social behaviour, then the shotguns might not be required.

[stevenl]

He can boast to his friends and the girls, showing of his wounds, and she is seems hardly injured. All well.

[Just1Voice]

When I was younger, and somewhat prone to getting into mischief, often time, late at night when the stores had all closed, and me and my friends would get a craving for watermelons, cantaloupes, or fresh fruit such as apples, pears and cherries,and remember that farmer So-and-so had them, it wasn't unusual to go "liberate" a few of them. At that time the "weapon of choice" for farmers and other rural folks was a double barrel shotgun loaded with rock salt. Not much chance of it killing you (they always seemed to aim low), but I can tell you from personal experience

IT HURT LIKE hel_l!!!!

Also served to discourage you from going back to that particular far.

[Phuket Stan]

I wonder if they are still amused? I also wonder if Ayuwat Ruengnak, 15, has a motorcycle licence. If the police charged under-age and unlicenced riders amusing themselves with anti-social behaviour, then the shotguns might not be required.

Am a bit suprised at your harsh remarks considering you are Australian if one is to believe your user name.....the youth in Aus are not exactly a shining example of good behaviour...often unlicensed or P plate drivers who are loaded to the gills with booze are involved in accidents which either maim or kill innocent people ...did u never do any sky-larking in your youth ?

[OzMick]

Am a bit suprised at your harsh remarks considering you are Australian if one is to believe your user name.....the youth in Aus are not exactly a shining example of good behaviour...often unlicensed or P plate drivers who are loaded to the gills with booze are involved in accidents which either maim or kill innocent people ...did u never do any sky-larking in your youth ?

Actually quite a bit. But as I remember "unlicensed or P plate drivers who are loaded to the gills with booze are involved in accidents which either maim or kill innocent people" usually end up in prison or dead.

My point was that these kids have to be pretty annoying to get a shotgun fired at them, and there is an easy method to rein them in - should the BIB take it upon themselves to do so.

Police on Samui work a 24-hr shift - guess where they are in the early hours of the morning?

[JetsetBkk]

Som nam na...

+1

Police think the shot was probably fired as a warning, possibly by someone fed up with the racket the youths were making at such a late hour.

Ah, well that's all right then. No need to wake up the BiB for a man hunt, let them play cards until it's time to go on the rounds at the bars and collect their tea money.

Cynical? Moi?