Vendor fires M16 at international school

BANGKOK: -- A food-stall owner opened fire on an international school with an M16 assault rifle early yesterday in what he said was just a way to vent his anger.

Tossaporn Boonchuay, 38, said he used the gun out of frustration after two city police seized his stall, which meant they took away his livelihood.

“He pleaded guilty and claimed he knew he did the wrong thing. Still, he told us that a gun was now the best way to justice,” Bang Pong Pang Police Station’s superintendent Colonel Chaowalit Manosamut said.

He said Tossaporn would be charged with unauthorised possession and use of a war weapon and war ammunition, and carrying a war weapon and ammunition in public places without sound reason.

According to police, Tossaporn was drunk when he dug out the assault rifle from where he had buried it behind Fortune Tower. He opened fire on an international school in Yannawa district at 3am and at least four of his bullets hit the school’s building.

He was later arrested inside Fortune Tower.

Tossaporn claimed he fired at the school to vent his anger after two city police officials seized his stall because he failed to pay them Bt500.

He said he’d run his stall in front of Fortune Tower for more than four years during which he had paid the city police Bt500 a month just like other stall owners. However, heavy expenses had left him unable to pay them in the past three months, which he believed was the only reason why they had seized his stall.

In 1989, Tossaporn robbed a bank with an M16 assault rifle – for which he served nine years and 11 months in prison.

--The Nation 2005-09-26

In 1989, Tossaporn robbed a bank with an M16 assault rifle – for which he served nine years and 11 months in prison.

Many times, it is not easy to be a good person in life.

He said Tossaporn would be charged with unauthorised possession and use of a war weapon and war ammunition, and carrying a war weapon and ammunition in public places without sound reason.

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Then firing a weapon in public is not a crime, I suppose.

Bang Pong Pang Police Station

He said Tossaporn would be charged with unauthorised possession and use of a war weapon and war ammunition, and carrying a war weapon and ammunition in public places without sound reason.

Then firing a weapon in public is not a crime, I suppose.

Bang Pong Pang Police Station

Highly apt name too, 'TOSSERPORN" (sic.)