After a senseless tragedy left an innocent bystander dead on Sunday from a wedding party that shot guns into the air as part of their celebration, five suspects have turned themselves into the police.
Four men surrendered to police at Huay Yai Station Sunday night, several hours after learning that one of their bullets had killed 36-year-old Thanet Inwong, who was leaving a nearby home after having breakfast with friends.
The men brought four guns that were fired during the wedding parade with them. There were three 9mm pistols and one .45mm gun that were shot during the procession with the groom to the bride’s house in Chonburi’s Ban Huay Khai Nao community.
The men were identified as Wasin Kongkaew, Athit Lomrorb, and Jeerapat Lomrorb, and Thinnapat Charoensiri, all aged 20-23, reported Bangkok Post.
Later, another man, Prasert Nopparat, 45, also surrendered. He was only was charged for having a firearm without permission. Apparently, his pistol was used in the procession but he did not fire it, instead he lent it to Wasin to use in the ill-fated celebration, according to The Nation.
The men said that they shot the guns about 100 meters before the groom, Sumeth Lomrorb, got to the bride’s house, where the wedding would happen. However, they denied killing Thanet.
Though two of the suspects have the same family name as the groom, their relationships are not yet known.
Officers found many spent shells from 11mm, 9mm and .38mm guns at the location where Thanet was shot and died but they have not yet pinpointed which bullet killed the man.
Yesterday, they were taken for a re-enactment and to Chonburi’s Police Forensic Science Center to be tested for gunshot residue to help match the shooter with the bullet that killed Thanet.
The shooters will all be charged with gun possession without permission, having guns in public without permission and using guns in public.
The men were denied bail and are scheduled to appear in court in Pattaya for indictment today.
