Ex British squaddie commits suicide at Pattaya shooting range

A former British Army soldier yesterday committed suicide at Pattaya Shooting Park & Adventure in the Huai Yai subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province.

The man, reportedly named Ian Joseph, lowered his head, pointed the gun toward his right temple, and pulled the trigger of a 9-millimetre rented gun as staff stood nearby in shock.

The 36 year old turned up at the shooting range in Pattaya at about 11.30am yesterday and fired 10 rounds at some paper targets before turning the gun on himself.

The emergency services arrived at the scene and found the ex-British squaddie on the floor gasping for air in a pool of blood.

Joseph was rushed to Pattaya City Hospital and then moved to Chon Buri Hospital to undergo surgery. Unfortunately, hospital staff could not save him and he died later in the evening.

Shooting range manager, 33 year old Santat Senkhor admitted he is still in shock.

“The British person was a regular customer who has been to the shooting range about five or six times.

“Today, he rented two types of firearms, a short gun, and a long gun, and bought 25 rounds of ammunition, which I didn’t think was unusual. There were no signs of any abnormality and I served him as usual.

“He fired a handgun, two sets of five shots each. At the start of the third set he hit the target twice, but then for the third shot, he turned the muzzle to his temple.

“He lowered his head and shot himself one time in the brain and fell to the ground. I called the police straight away.”

Another member of staff revealed Joseph sat for 30 minutes smoking outside of the gun range before going inside. The employee said the British man had a serious expression on his face but did not think it was unusual because “he was a regular customer.”

Investigating officer Pacharak Suriya from the Huai Yai district police station reported police inspected the first firing range and found a .22 Magnum automatic rifle, and a short firearm with 9 millimetre practice rounds loaded in the mag.

“We have to contact the relatives of the dead man to further deduce the true cause. There are also many witnesses to interview.”

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai), or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress, or depression. Seek help.

SOURCE: Daily News