Two Teens Charged in Fatal Festival Shooting in Rayong
Two 18-year-old suspects surrendered to police after a shooting at a Rayong beach festival early Friday killed a bystander and wounded three others following a post-concert altercation.
RAYONG — Two 18-year-old suspects have surrendered to police after a shooting at a festival in Rayong allegedly killed a 25-year-old bystander and injured three others.
The shooting took place shortly after midnight on Friday, after a concert by Thai folk-rock band Maleehuana at the Mae Ramphueng Beach: Colours of the East festival in Rayong's Mueang district.
Police said the two suspects had argued with a rival group on the road after the concert. Although the groups initially separated, they allegedly continued shouting insults and challenges at each other.
One suspect was riding a motorcycle while the other sat behind him and allegedly fired several shots from a magazine-fed gun at the rival group. A 25-year-old man riding home on a motorcycle was struck by a bullet, seriously injured and later died. Three other bystanders were injured.
The suspects allegedly abandoned their motorcycle in a village in Tapong subdistrict before fleeing.
At about 16:00 on 20 September, the two contacted police and asked to surrender at an abandoned house in Pluak Daeng district. Officers later seized a modified blank-firing gun adapted to fire 9mm ammunition, which had been hidden in grass.
One suspect initially confessed, claiming he fired in self-defence after the opposing group shot at him first. Police said the groups had a prior dispute.
Police said one of the suspects had previously been arrested on a firearms charge and had escaped from Rayong's juvenile observation and protection centre.
Both suspects have been charged with jointly committing intentional murder using a firearm, attempted murder, and firearms offences.
