Man shot dead in Bangkok condo, friends accuse deceased of shooting himself

Police are investigating the death of a Thai man who was shot dead in a condominium in the Bangkok Noi district of Bangkok. His friends denied involvement telling police the deceased shot himself while playing with a gun.

Emergency rescue worker Anirut Taenglueang told Channel 3 and officers from Bang Khunnon Police Station that he lived in the same condo building as the dead man and heard about his death from a neighbour at 10pm on Sunday, November 12.

According to Anirut, the victim, 20 year old Weem Samutkham, was lying on the stairs with a gunshot wound to the head. He called the hospital but Weem died of his wounds before the medical team arrived.

Anirut said he asked three of Weem’s friends about the shooting and the friends remained silent. He continued questioning until one of the friends said…

“I told him not to play with the gun. He shot himself.”

Anirut saw that the incident was suspicious and reached out to the police. After questioning, police reported that the three admitted to having a drug party in the room and using ketamine before the shooting.

They said they had witnessed the deceased playing with a gun and shot himself. They tried to help the victim by taking him downstairs.

The three friends were identified as a 22 year old man named Komkrit Narkjard, a 22 year old man named Athit Suphanworrnop and a 21 year old woman named Nattida Jaksarn. The room belonged to Komkrit, and the three claimed the gun belonged to the deceased.

Officers were not convinced and conducted tests to see if gunpowder was left on their hands. The test results will be released within two weeks.

Weem’s mother, 59 year old Thavorn Marklai, also didn’t believe the friends’ confession. Her son had never bought or owned a gun. Thavorn said she knew her son and believed he was too scared to own or play with a gun.

Police said the three were initially charged with possession of a weapon without a licence. The penalty would be up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to 20,000 baht or both under Section 7 of the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks and Imitation Firearms Act.

Charges for their drug use would come later, after their official drug tests, and further charges would follow if they were found guilty of murder.