Teens Fire Gun in Village, Hit Bystander
A group of 10 teenagers in Udon Thani Province fired guns during a dispute and accidentally shot a 63-year-old man in the neck on August 9. Police arrested the suspects and recovered a homemade firearm, though the victim declined to press c
On August 9, at approximately 4 p.m., about 10 teenagers recklessly fired guns along a road in Nong Wua So village, Nong Wua So District, Udon Thani Province. A stray bullet struck a local resident, Thongda, 63, in the neck as he sat outside his home. His family rushed him to Nong Wua So Hospital, and he has since returned home to recover.
Initial investigation revealed that the youth involved, aged 13–15 and from outside the village, were attempting to shoot at a rival group but missed and hit the bystander instead. They fled the scene on motorcycles. District Officer Itthiphon Suyalai and Nong Wua So Police Station officers tracked down 10 suspects and recovered a homemade firearm.
During questioning, the teenagers admitted they opened fire over a dispute involving a woman. Although the injured man has decided not to press charges, police noted that firearms offenses remain serious legal matters, especially when minors are involved. Authorities are coordinating with parents and a multidisciplinary team to determine each suspect's specific involvement before applying the Child and Youth Protection Act.