Gunfight at Phuket fruit shop ends in arrests
Darawan Naknakhon


Somchay Kadeepisarn said he returned fire only after four men started shooting up his relative's fruit stall. Photo: Darawan Naknakhon

PHUKET: -- Police have arrested five men for a gunfight at a fruit stall in Vichit on Tuesday night (June 9).

Vichit police arrested four men at a house behind Suan Luang park at 12:10am yesterday (June 10). The suspects were named as Panchai Nooleing, 22, Songwut Sirichum, 30, Thawatchai Choowong, 30, and Jirayu Pengchan, 22.

Police seized from the four men two home-made handguns, two 12-gauge shotgun cartridges, seven .38 bullets and two gun holsters.

The four men allegedly argued with the owner of a fruit stall on Wirat Hongyok Rd at 10pm on Tuesday.

Police soon arrived and witnesses told them that the suspects had fled into Suan Luang Park.

The officers soon found 41-year-old Somchay Kadeepisarn hiding near a fountain in the park. They also found a Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol inside the fountain, and four bullets nearby.

Somchay was taken to Vichit Police Station, where he told police that four men had been shooting at him and that the four lived in a house behind Suan Luang Park.

When Somchay arrived at the fruit stall, his relative, who owns the stall, was embroiled in a heated argument with his next-door neighbours, he said.

The neighbours started shooting in the shop, so Somchay ran to his car, grabbed a gun and returned fire, prompting the four men to flee into the park.

Somehow, no one was injured in the shoot-out.

Somchay and the other four men are currently being held at Vichit police where they have been charged with being accessories to attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and carrying weapons in a public place without a permit.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/gunfight-at-phuket-fruit-shop-ends-in-arrests-52722.php

-- Phuket News 2015-06-11

Gotta cut back on that fruit and eat more red meat! "Is that a banana in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?"

What was that all about, The price of sapalot and banana.

>Somehow, no one was injured in the shoot-out.

For once in Thailand, incompetence saves the day!

....fruit.......generally good for the health.....unless you have bad luck/timing.....and cross paths with such lunatics.....

The banana's he sold them were all curved?

"Gunfight at Kluay Corral"

"They also found a Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol inside the fountain, and four bullets nearby."

That's a bit much to be floating around loose and unaccounted for in Thailand. Not only is that a quality firearm, but ammo is expensive and isn't readily available in LOS. The common caliber on the loose is military - 9mm NATO. We usually see reports of 9mm.

As for them not hitting anything, Thainess saves the day.

The neighbours started shooting in the shop, so Somchay ran to his car, grabbed a gun and returned fire, prompting the four men to flee into the park.

Not wondering when you watch the daily soap operas, you gotta be at least similar. Hey Joe, where do you go with the gun in your hand?

Phuket fruit: now with the added risk of extreme lead poisoning.

♩♪♫ I've got a lov-erly bunch of cocon...♬♪♫

BLAM!