Police on Monday arrested five people, including three minors, in connection with a Bangkok shooting spree and car chase that left five people dead last Friday night Jan. 20.
Warut Paladej, 23, Saksit Wannapahul, 20 and the three minors were arrested while Weerayuth Jaroonrueang, the alleged triggerman, remains at large, Metropolitan Police Chief Winai Thongsong said.
Weerayuth was accused by his friends of firing shots at a pickup truck during the car chase which ended with both vehicles crashing. Warut was the alleged driver of the Honda sedan, the Bangkok Post reported.
Police have been told that Weerayuth and five others were at a well-known pub on Rama III Road on Friday when they went to the toilet and got into an altercation with another group of youth.
Earlier, New Krongthong, 20, who was in the truck, said that he and a group of nine friends were at the pub when members of the other group “glared” at them at them as they were leaving.
New said that the other group then followed him and his friends, and when they stopped at a red light, someone inside the car fired on the truck. Police reported two bullet holes in the truck while two 9mm bullets were found inside the vehicle.
The chase continued with more shots fired at New and his friends when the truck crashed into a tree on Suk Sawat Road. Five people were thrown from the truck – three died instantly and two died later at the hospital. All fatalities were between 18 and 23 years old.
The sedan also crashed following the chase, which took place on Somdej Phrajao Taksin Road before tragically ending at Suk Sawat Road.
“Police will arrest Mr Weerayuth, the alleged shooter, as soon as possible. Other suspects will be charged with colluding to kill others,’’ Lt. Gen. Winai said.
