Woman shot dead in Phuket Town

PHUKET: Police are hunting for the suspect of a shooting on the east side of Phuket Town last night that ended in the death of a woman from Trang.

Local residents who heard the sounds of gunfire in Soi Hatchananivet, near the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) Hospital in Rassada, notified Phuket City Police of the incident by at about 9:30pm.

“When we arrived at the scene, we saw a crowd of people standing around a motorbike and a pool of blood on the ground, but no victim,” said Maj Rachan Panwai of Phuket City Police.

Saowalak Samtong, 41, had already been rushed to the PPAO Hospital by rescue workers.

“The medical team at the hospital tried their best to help Ms Saowalak, but they were not able to save her,” said Maj Rachan.

Maj Rachan said that Ms Saowalak had been shot in the chest.

“We found three bullet holes on a wall at the scene,” he said.

Police are now checking CCTV footage in the area for further evidence and to identify the suspect, he added.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong