Pattaya Daily News

Pattaya, the 1st of June 2010 [PDN]: At approximately 5:30am on Tuesday, Lieutenant Colonel Chatchai Srisuwan (Pattaya Police Investigator) was notified of a suspected shootout between two rival gangs at the South Pattaya/2nd Road intersection near Walking Street. Police in the vicinity of the area were immediately dispatched to the incident.

At the scene, police were able to barricade 3 cars suspected to have been involved in the incident, which were still waiting at the intersection. Local residents and tourists had gathered at the scene, forcing officers to setup a containment area while investigations took place. Police immediately restrained the occupants of the vehicles, 4 men and a number of youths, before an inspection of the cars were carried out. In the search, police uncovered 3 hand guns and 67 bullets concealed underneath the driver’s seat of one vehicle, whilst one of the men had a fully loaded automatic pistol concealed on his person.

All four of the men detained in the incident, Mr. Kittichai Thammaniyom [28], Mr. Ratthaphum Muang-u [23], Mr. Phalatip Ruengsamran [33], and Mr. Wirat Diloksri [36], admitted to being the owners of the weapons. Police took statements from the involved youths and witnesses to the incident before arresting the four men and taking them to the Pattaya Police Station for interrogation.

Mr. Phalatip Ruengsamran revealed to police that he was the leader of the gang and had taken his friends to a popular Thai pub in Pattaya for the evening. Upon leaving the establishment, Mr. Ruengsamran stated that a rival gang had decided to follow them, for unknown reasons, until they arrived at the South Pattaya intersection. He then states that he had fired several gunshots into the air in an attempt to warn the rival gang, who proceeded to flee the scene as a result.

Due to the immediate report made to police by several witnesses to the incident and the fast action of nearby mobile patrols, the offending gang was successfully apprehended whilst waiting for the lights at the South Pattaya Intersection.

All four men, now remanded in custody, have been charged with carrying firearms in public without authority, whilst Mr. Ruengsamran has also been handed an additional charge of shooting a firearm in public. The youth gang members were released into the custody of their parents/guardians and warned in relation to their continued involvement in gang related activities.

Related items

• Well-connected Youths Released Following Gang Shootout
• Ladyboy Pickpocket Caught by British National in Pattaya
• British National Drugged and Robbed by Pattaya Prostitute
• Enraged Ex-Convict Terrorizes Karaoke Bar Workers
• Cops Catch Thai Jailbird With Pistol And Ya-Ice

Extensive Gallery [ 5 photos ]