Gunman shoots one at crowded Chinese ceremony in Phuket

PHUKET: Police are hunting a gunman who shot a man during a crowded ceremony in front of the Guan Yu shrine in Chalong last night.

Rescue workers and police arrived at the scene to find Teearapon Ponsamak, 24, crying in pain from a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

“Mr Teearapon’s friends told us that he was at the shrine celebrating Guan Yu’s birthday with more than 300 other people when he bumped into a rival,” said Lt Cholada Chokdeesrijan of Chalong Police. “They ended up arguing and eventually the man pulled out a gun and fired one shot.”

So far, the shooter has only been identified by his nick name, ‘Tua’. The suspect dropped the gun and fled the scene with a number of other people, confirmed Lt Cholada.

“We were very lucky that he only fired one shot, and that more people were not injured in the incident,” Lt Cholada said.

Mr Teearapon was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong