A spirit medium locally known as “ma song” joins a huge street procession through Phuket Town yesterday. Photo: Guy Houben/ Coconuts Media
A 15-year-old-boy was killed and three other teenagers injured during a shoot-out at the closing ceremony of the Vegetarian Festival at Saphan Hin early this morning.
Phuket City Police were called to investigate the incident near Phuket Vocational College in Talad Yai at 12:20am.
Police said that while more than 10,000 people gathered at Saphan Hin, a group of teenagers on a motorbike chased another group of teenagers who were also on a motorbike.
“According to witnesses, when the shooters rode their motorbikes past the victims, they [the victims] lit firecrackers and threw them at the suspects. This sparked an altercation and it ended with the four boys being shot,” according to police.
The three injured youths have been named only as Mao, 14, who suffered a single gunshot wound to his right arm; Toe, 14, shot once in the back; and Kai, 15, who was shot once in the stomach.
“All of the victims are students at a private secondary school in Phuket Town. The school is closed for a holiday so the group of friends came to join the Vegetarian Festival procession,” Phuket police said.
Bao suffered gunshot wounds to his chest from a 9mm gun. His body was taken to Vachira Hospital while rescue workers and medical staff attended to three injured victims.
All three were later transferred to Vachira Hospital.
Police found one 9mm bullet near the body of Bao and 16 9mm bullet casings 50 meters away from the body. A Toyota Vios which was parked nearby had also been hit by stray bullets.
Police will gather more information and question any friends, family and witnesses.
Story: The Phuket News
