Teen Dead, Another Injured In Phuket Drive-By Shooting

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Teen dead, another injured in Phuket drive-by shooting

PHUKET: -- One teenager is dead and another man injured from gunshot wounds following a drive-by shooting in Phuket last night.

Thalang Police duty officer Sarit Bootnongsaeng identified the deceased as 19-year-old Somsun Srirat.

Mr Somsun was riding a motorbike with a passenger along the road from Pa Khlok to Muang Mai at about 8pm when two assailants rode up alongside on another bike and fired at them with a homemade shotgun, Lt Col Sarit said.

The bike went down immediately and the assailants continued to fire, he said.

Mr Somsun and his friend, 27-year-old Anusorn Jantawong, managed to flee on foot and found safety in a marshy area inside a golf course.

Witnesses led police and rescue workers to Mr Somsun, who had sustained a shotgun blast to the chest.

He was was rushed to Thalang Hospital, then transferred to the better-equipped Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, where doctors were unable to save him, Lt Col Sarit added.

Mr Anusorn is being treated for shotgun wounds to his left knee and fingers.

Thalang Police are investigating the incident.

This incident follows the January 30 shooting death of 13-year-old Surachai “Neung” Takuasook, who was similarly gunned down while driving a motorbike in Thalang by assailants on another motorbike.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-03-08