Police have apprehended a gunman following a shooting incident at a radio station in Saraburi yesterday evening, Wednesday, June 24th.
The arrest was made in the early hours of this morning, Thursday, June 25th, at a house in the Noppharat subdistrict of Nong Sua district in Pathum Thani province following an hour-long stand-off.
The event unfolded at around 6.30 pm yesterday when a man began firing shots at electricians who were working at the Public Relations Department’s radio station in the Nong Rong subdistrict of Saraburi.
Witnesses at the scene informed police that the man had started firing multiple rounds before stealing an Isuzu pickup truck parked at the station and driving away from the scene.
After police had been called about the incident, they arrived on the scene to interview witnesses and take statements. However, the gunman had returned to the scene in the stolen truck and quickly took off towards Pathum Thani when he saw the police.
Noticing the stolen vehicle, police pursued the truck to a house in Pathum Thani where the arrest was made. Luckily, nobody was injured during the incident.
Officials have identified the suspect as 36-year-old Somphop Praeseekiew, a resident of the Nong Khae district in Saraburi. His relative informed police that he had recently gotten out of prison, where he served time for drug charges.
Upon arrest, Mr. Praeseekiew confessed to stealing an 11mm handgun and more than 30 bullets from his neighbor. He informed police that he had fired more than 20 rounds at the radio station and returned to fire more shots before spotting the police.
Mr. Praeseekiew will be charged with illegal possession of a firearm, discharging a firearm in public, robbery, and damaging property.
His motive for the attack remains unknown. However, Police spokesman, Kissana Phattanacharoen said that he may have been under the influence of drugs during the incident.
The incident is the second attack at a radio station in Thailand over the past few weeks. Last month, a man killed three people in a shooting at a radio station in Phitsanulok.
Source: The Nation
