Two vocational students have been detained for questioning following a brawl with rival students, which resulted in the fatal shooting of one student and the injury of another on Thursday, June 13, in Bangkok’s Phra Khanong district.
In a tragic escalation of student rivalry, two vocational students are currently being questioned for their alleged involvement in a deadly altercation that culminated in the shooting death of one student and the injury of another. The incident occurred on Thursday, June 13, in Sukhumvit Soi 101/1, Phra Khanong district, Bangkok.
Pol Maj Gen Noppasilp Poonsawat, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, addressed the media in a press conference, revealing that 14 vocational students were implicated in the violent confrontation. This group included nine minors and five adults. Four of these individuals were armed, but so far, only a .38 caliber pistol has been recovered from a friend’s house, believed to belong to the alleged shooter.
The detained suspects confessed to police investigators that their group, motivated by the desire to gain recognition from their seniors, had conspired to provoke a confrontation with students from a rival institution. The plan was purportedly supported by older students from their own school.
Law enforcement is currently gathering evidence to secure arrest warrants for the remaining students involved in the incident. The confrontation has thrown a harsh spotlight on the ongoing issue of student violence in Bangkok, particularly among vocational institutions.
In a related case, police have arrested five individuals connected to the fatal shooting of Peeraphong, a 19-year-old second-year vocational certificate student from a technology college. Peeraphong was shot in the chest and later died at the hospital, while another student, identified as Mr. A (a pseudonym), a 15-year-old first-year vocational student from the same institution, was shot in the leg and injured. This incident took place in Soi Wachiratham Sathit 14, Bang Chak Subdistrict, Phra Khanong District, also on June 13.
On June 16, 2024, officers from the Bangna Police Station’s Investigation Department and the 5th Police Station’s Investigation Team arrested Mr. Kanok, 20, and Mr. A (a pseudonym), 16. They seized a .38 caliber gun and a handmade Thai shotgun. The suspects claimed they acted in self-defense, stating that the deceased’s group had ambushed them.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident to determine the exact circumstances and take appropriate legal actions against those responsible. The recent spate of violence highlights the urgent need for measures to address student rivalries and enhance safety in educational institutions across Bangkok.
The press conference and subsequent updates involved several officials, including Pol Maj Gen Noppasilp Poonsawat and officers from the Bangna Police Station and the 5th Police Station’s Investigation Team.
