Pattaya showdown: Family feud turns into a Western gunfight
In a scene more suited to a Spaghetti Western movie, a heated feud between two local families in Pattaya last night spiralled into a gunfight, leaving several injured.
The explosive altercation unfolded along the railway roadside just before Soi Siam Country Club, on the inbound stretch towards Sattahip in the Bang Lamung district.
At precisely 10.06pm, yesterday, February 2, the alert was sounded at Nongprue Police Station, prompting Police Lieutenant Colonel Jirasak Aepfaeng to dash to the chaotic scene, accompanied by Police Colonel Tawi Kutthaeng, detectives, rescue teams from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan, and local reporters.
Upon arrival, emergency services were greeted with a scene of utter chaos, discovering three bloodied victims. A 36 year old woman, Phanicha Mahaniyom, was left clutching her left arm, nursing a gunshot wound that required ten stitches. A 29 year old man, Pramote Phutchan, had a hole in his right leg, while 35 year old Thanyawal Phromthep was gravely injured, having taken a hit to the back of her head.
All three were swiftly whisked away to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment.
A closer look at the battleground unveiled over ten bullet casings and trails of blood. Confidants of the injured, initially hiding out in a nearby forest, emerged to recount the chilling tale.
It seems the fiery showdown was sparked by a prior scuffle among the teenage children of the feuding families. An attempt to settle scores in a dirt lot turned disastrous as the opposing family, turning up with more than ten associates, escalated the tension to a boiling point, leading to the gun being drawn.
A 27 year old witness, Athitaya Aob-un, shared insights into the sordid saga, revealing that the clash stemmed from a fight between two teenage girls, Na and Fa, aged 13 and 14.
Insisting on a face-to-face resolution, the parents of Fa arranged the ill-fated meeting with Na’s family, reported Pattaya News However, once there, fists flew as Nut, a parent from the rival clan, reportedly assaulted Athitaya, setting off the gunfire that followed. The mystery gunman remains unidentified as of now.
Enlightening footage from a car’s dashcam captured the explosive argument and the subsequent chaos. As the smoke cleared, the culprits made their escape on motorbikes and in cars, vanishing into the Pattaya night.
Lieutenant Colonel Jirasak Aepfaeng and his team are scrutinising CCTV footage, having already identified several key suspects, expect to serve justice.
Latest Thailand News
