Masked men open fire in Phuket drive-by shooting, injure two

PHUKET: Two men were injured just before midnight last night in what Phuket police are calling a drive-by revenge shooting.

Four men were sitting round a table drinking at Baan Liporn when a group of eight masked men on motorbikes drove by and opened fire.

Watthana Suebsak, 18, was shot in the face and seriously injured, while Prasert Chanthip, 35, was also shot and wounded.

“The medical team had to support Mr Watthana’s breathing while he was being taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit,” Lt Suporn Muangkhai of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette.

“Mr Prasert was taken to Thalang Hospital with gun wounds to his left arm and leg.”

Police are questioning the victims and checking CCTV footage in the area, in an attempt to try and identify the suspects.

“We don’t know how many of them had guns or how many times they fired at us. We were just running for our lives,” Mr Prasert said. “I don’t know who these people are, but it looks like they were seeking revenge.”

— Thawit Bilabdullar