Teen fatally shot by schoolmate in Bueng Kan province

A tragic incident unfolded yesterday evening when a 14 year old student was fatally shot in the back of the head by a 15 year old schoolmate. The shooting occurred around 7.35pm, yesterday, September 19, in Pak Khat, Bueng Kan province.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Teerawisit Jinjanda, Deputy Inspector of Pak Khat Police Station, was alerted to the shooting. He promptly arrived at the scene with Police Colonel Siwat Worakuttanon, Superintendent of Pak Khat Police Station, Police Lieutenant Colonel Dechchai Wannapruek, Deputy Superintendent (Investigation), forensic officers, medical personnel from Pak Khat Hospital, and a rescue unit.

The victim was found lying on a grassy area beside a house, with a .38-millimetre bullet wound to the back of his head. The bullet remained lodged inside, and the deceased was identified as a 14 year old named A (pseudonym), a second-year secondary school student in Pak Khat district.

The gunman, identified as B (pseudonym), a 15 year old fourth-year secondary school student from the same school, has been taken into custody for questioning. Police seized the pen gun used in the shooting, which was loaded with .38-millimetre ammunition.

Pol. Col. Siwat stated that the shooting stemmed from a previous altercation between the two youths. Upon encountering each other again, the gunman resorted to using the pen gun, firing a bullet that tragically lodged in the back of the victim’s head. The victim’s body will be sent for an autopsy at Srinagarind Hospital’s forensic department in Khon Kaen province to retrieve the bullet.

Initial investigations revealed that the deceased, along with seven friends, was sitting on a bamboo platform in front of the house where the incident occurred. The gunman and his friends had ridden past on a motorcycle but returned shortly after, reported KhaoSod.

Teenage conflict

Upon stopping the bike, the gunman approached the younger group, who were playing a game, and provocatively asked, “Are you guys looking for trouble?” The younger group, who had a history of conflict with the gunman, denied any intention of causing trouble, waving their hands and saying, “No, no.”

However, the gunman drew his gun, prompting the seven friends to scatter in different directions. The victim was shot in the back of the head while attempting to flee but managed to jump over a low concrete fence before collapsing and succumbing to his injuries.

Police have charged the suspect with premeditated murder, to which he has confessed, and he will be prosecuted according to the law.