Chinese tourist dies in tragic shooting at Thai range

A tragic incident occurred at a shooting range in Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, where a 43 year old Chinese man committed suicide by shooting himself, shocking everyone present. Police are now investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

Yesterday evening, October 24 at around 5pm, Veerawat Boonpaeng, an investigating officer at Khlong Ha Police Station in Pathum Thani, received a report of a man who had used a firearm to harm himself at a shooting range in Khlong Luang district.

Medical personnel from Khlong Luang Hospital, forensic experts, the investigation team, and the Poh Teck Tung Foundation rescue unit were immediately called to the scene.

Upon arrival, they found the dead man, dressed in black shorts, a white t-shirt, and black trainers, lying on the grass. A 9mm firearm was found nearby, with a bullet wound in his mouth, indicating a self-inflicted gunshot.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had entered Thailand on March 15 with a tourist visa and had recently extended his stay on October 23. He had been staying at a hotel in the Ratchada area. The firearm used in this tragic incident belonged to the shooting range, where the man had rented it for practice before the unfortunate event.

Police are now working to determine the reasons behind his actions. The body has been sent to Thammasat University Hospital for an autopsy before being returned to his family for funeral rites, reported KhaoSod.

In other news, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicts a steady growth in international tourists for the fourth quarter of 2024, despite recent flooding in the country.

The initial concern was that such natural disasters might deter visitors. However, the influx, particularly from Chinese tourists during China’s National Day holiday, has surpassed expectations.

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.