Buddhist amulet saves Thai man from shooting in Bangkok restaurant
Violent attack erupts among diners over high-stakes property negotiations
A Thai businessman survived a shooting at a restaurant in Bangkok yesterday, June 12, after a Buddhist amulet he was wearing reportedly blocked a bullet from piercing his chest.
Officers from Bang Khen Police Station responded to reports of gunfire at a restaurant on Phahonyothin Road in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district. Upon arrival, they found a chaotic scene, with tables and chairs stained with blood.
The injured man was identified as 50 year old Pornchai. According to police, the bullet struck a Buddhist amulet he was wearing, preventing a direct hit to his chest. However, he still sustained injuries from the gunshot.
Initial investigations revealed that Pornchai had been seated at table number 35 with friends and colleagues. The window behind them was shattered, and two bullet casings were discovered nearby.
Police also recovered the damaged amulet from the ground, with the bullet still lodged in it. The amulet features the image of the late abbot of Suwan Temple in Nakhon Pathom province.
Residents who believe in the supernatural powers of the amulet shared stories of its reputed protective powers. One such tale involved two groups of gangsters who stopped fighting after discovering that both sides carried the amulets, and no one was harmed in that earlier altercation.
In this incident, the shooting is believed to have stemmed from a dispute over a real estate bidding project. A restaurant employee told police that Pornchai and his friends often met at the venue to discuss property deals, including on the day of the shooting.
Pornchai and the suspected gunman, a 28 year old man known only as O, reportedly disagreed on the benefits of the bid. This dispute escalated, and O allegedly shot Pornchai in the chest.
After the shooting, O fled the scene in a white pickup. He later surrendered to law enforcement at Bang Khen Police Station.
The restaurant owner, Prasit, said many customers fled in panic during the incident. He expressed understanding but urged patrons to return and settle their bills.
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