Motorcycle Owner Fears Misunderstanding After Police Use Her Bike in Crime Reenactment

On September 21, Muang Rayong Police arrested Pharanyoo (also known as Diao), 18, and Charuj (also known as Tor), 18, for opening fire at a rival during the Mae Rumpung Beach Festival's "Colors of the East" event in the early hours of September 18, killing one person and injuring three others. After fleeing the scene, the suspects hid in an abandoned house in Mueang Khu Subdistrict, Pluak Daeng District, before police tracked them down and recovered a modified 9mm pistol. Investigation revealed that Pharanyoo had previously faced weapons charges and was held at a youth detention facility in Rayong Province in 2024, but escaped. He encountered an old rival at the festival, an argument ensued, and he fired the weapon. At 11 a.m. on September 21, police brought both suspects to the scene to reconstruct the crime, borrowing a motorcycle from a resident that matched the model and color of the weapon-used vehicle. News outlets and Facebook pages broadcast live footage of the reenactment, causing alarm for the 40-year-old motorcycle owner who feared the public would believe her son's vehicle and license plate belonged to the suspects. She rushed to meet with Atit Yakaew, commander of Muang Rayong Police Station, to clarify that the motorcycle was borrowed by police for the reenactment only and was not connected to the crime.