Boy, 15, shot dead for staring
PHUKET CITY: Piyawuth “Ab” Pattamapaneewong, 19, and Wirat “Dam” Thongsu, 20, both from Phuket City, have been charged with gunning down a 15-year-old boy about 12.30 am on December 24.
The victim was identified as Chumphon “Toto” Ruengdam, son of Prasert “Phu Yai Soi” Ruengdam, Headman of Rassada Village 3.
Police arrested the two suspects about 5 am the same day in a rented room on Samkong Rd, where they were sleeping soundly. Police found a shotgun along with four unused cartridges and a fifth spent cartridge behind the headboard of the bed.
The officer in charge of the case, who asked to remain anonymous, said that Chumphon was riding around Phuket City with six to eight friends, when he saw Ab and Dam at the Clock Tower traffic circle.
Ab and Dam were allegedly incensed by Chumphon staring at them, and followed him to Satree Phuket School intersection; where Ab pulled out a sawed-off shotgun from his waistband and hit Chumphon twice over the head with it.
Dam sped away, but as he did so Ab fired at Chumphon, riddling his body with nine pellets.
Chumphon managed to hold on to his friend for 200 meters or so after being shot, but then fell to the roadway and died.
The two suspects have been charged with murder and unlawful possession of a firearm.
