Three people have been injured after a man went on a shooting rampage near Bangla Road in Patong, in the early hours of yesterday morning. The Phuket Express reports that a former bar worker started firing gunshots in a car park on Soi Lao at around 2.25am. Soi Lao connects directly with Bangla Road.
Patong Police and rescue workers rushed to the scene of the shooting, which had led to a total closure of the popular tourist party area. The shooter, named only as Mr Jess, was arrested in the car park. He was carrying a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, from which he had fired 5 rounds, injuring 3 people.
The injured are all Thai men who have sustained gunshots to their limbs, with one also having minor injuries from a knife attack. They were rushed to Patong Hospital and Vachira Phuket Hospital for treatment, while the perpetrator has been taken to Patong Police Station for questioning.
According to the Phuket Express report, Sujin Nilbodee, chief of Patong Police, says the suspect has a history of altercations with the injured men going back around a year. Jess once worked at a nightlife venue on Bangla Road, during which time he had frequent clashes with the victims.
Meanwhile The Phuket News has published a clarification from a representative of Phuket’s nightlife venues. According to Weerawit Krueasombat, President from the Patong Entertainment Business Association…
“Please inform all business operators.. Last night there was a shooting incident in Soi Lao. The perpetrator was not an employee who worked in Soi Bangla, but was a former tout for guests that the officials had organised to remove long ago.”
SOURCE: The Phuket Express and The Phuket News
