Phuket City biker blasted by shotgun
PHUKET: A 20-year-old man died after being blasted at close range with a shotgun early on Tuesday as he rode his motorbike around Phuket City, with his girlfriend riding pillion.
Pol Maj Wicharn Suwansith, Duty Inspector at Phuket City Police Station, said that Kheng Phatthong was confronting other young men on motorbikes who had shouted insults at him, when he was blasted in the left side of his abdomen with a shotgun.
Kheng was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Maj Wicharn said that the incident happened on Thepkrasattri Rd about 12:30 am.
He said that Kheng’s girlfriend, Marisa Srikul, 18, in her statement said, “Kheng and I were riding around Phuket City with about eight of his friends on five motorbikes.
“I sat behind Kheng, and after we rode past Anuphas Ford [Phuket], four men on two motorbikes rode by in the opposite direction and shouted insults at us. So we turned around to follow them, but the other four men had already turned around.
“One of the men, who was riding pillion, shot Kheng. Then they all rode away.”
Maj Wicharn said that Marisa was unable to identify her attackers or remember the license plate numbers of the motorbikes they were riding.
“I think this happened because Kheng’s enemies wanted revenge; he was known for being involved in violent crimes,” Maj Wicharn told the Gazette, adding that police are continuing their investigation into the killing.
