Sunday should have been a happy day for a bride and groom in Chon Buri but it turned out to be a tragic one for an innocent couple after wedding guests began firing weapons into the sky – which led to the death of a man in Bang Lamung district.
Five men have surrendered to police over the killing of Thanet Inthawong, 36, in what appears to be a senseless tragedy all-too common in Thailand.
Police said the five suspects may just be some of the wedding guests who endangered the public during the raucous celebrations.
The victim, however, did not attend the wedding but was minding his own business at his place of work.
Weerawan Supachon-ayu, 45, Thanet’s girlfriend, told police she was sitting with her boyfriend at a shop where he worked in Banhuay Kainao village when sounds of the celebration were heard from about 50 metres away as the wedding procession approached.
She said she told her boyfriend, who was about to leave the shop, to wait for the procession to pass by. At the same time, she heard several gunshots.
The shooting continued as the procession continued by, Weerawan said, when suddenly she heard Thanet cry out and saw him fall to the ground.
He was unresponsive as she tried to help him, prompting her to call for help to take Thanet to hospital, where he was declared dead with a bullet wound to his chest.
Another man at the scene said he had shouted at the oblivious wedding guests, telling them to stop firing but they only ceased after he told them a man had been hit by a bullet.
Five men who were guests at the wedding had surrendered to police yesterday and submitted to questioning before being held without bail.
Police yesterday planned to arrest more suspects after it was reported that about 10 guests at the wedding had opened fire during the celebrations.
Four men surrendered to police at the same time. They told police they had fired their guns into the sky to celebrate their friend’s marriage. Police took the suspects’ fingerprints and tested their hands for gunpowder residue.
They were charged with recklessness leading to a death, firing guns in a public place without permission, possessing guns without permission, and carrying weapons into a public place without permission.
Another man who surrendered separately yesterday, was charged with possessing a gun without permission because someone else used his pistol in the shooting.
Police also seized four guns including three licensed 9mm pistols and an unlicensed 11mm pistol with plans to test them to determine which gun killed Thanet.
Recklessness resulting in death carries a jail term of not more than 10 years and a fine of 120,000 bht.
Another tragedy that should not have occurred as once more the irresponsible use of firearms raises its ugly head. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the victim’s family.
(Source:The Nation, Thailand)