Assistant village headman arrested as 300 protest over Chiang Rai checkpoint killing

Sornchai Sathitrakdamrong, 35, was shot while driving past a checkpoint on Tuesday night. His girlfriend, Sirirat Rabiang, was riding as a passenger in the car.

Police yesterday identified the shooter as Wutthichai Injai, 46.
The suspect, however, has denied shooting at Sornchai but admitted that he had fired three shots into the sky that day. The incident occurred after Sornchai reportedly failed to stop at a checkpoint. 
Sirirat said on Wednesday that she and her boyfriend had not seen anyone staffing the checkpoint so Sornchai had not stopped his car.

An ongoing police investigation, however, determined that people had waved at the car but in a gesture that did not make it clear whether the car was supposed to stop or slow down. 
After Sornchai drove another 20 metres, Sirirat said she heard gunfire, Sornchai collapsed in his seat and the car crashed into a power pole. After she determined that Sornchai was dead with bullet wounds to his head, unidentified officials emerged from a hiding spot along the road and told her to raise her hands, Sirirat said. 

After they searched her and failed to find any contraband items, she was allowed to call relatives and police. 
Sornchai’s body was then sent for an autopsy at Chiang Rai Hospital where the family later collected the body for religious rites.
Sornchai and Sirirat had been travelling from Rayong, where they worked, to Chiang Rai province to visit his family. 
About 300 of his relatives and friends camped outside of the Mae Suay Police Station in Chiang Rai province for hours yesterday to demand a swift police investigation to find and punish the shooter and an apology.
 The group, led by Sirirat and lawyer Jeerasak Damrongchokchaikul, said the deceased man had been a good person and his family’s breadwinner so they wanted to know who had shot him and how authorities justified the shooting. 
Sirirat said the family would not cremate Sornchai’s body until they received answers, while Jeerasak questioned what state agency would provide compensation and remedial measures over the loss.
The angry crowds then moved into Mae Suay Police Station. 
Chiang Rai deputy chief Pol Colonel Weerayuth Prasopchokchai talked to the angry crowd to calm them down, telling them that the suspect had already been arrested and sent for a court detention order. The group then agreed to retreat outside.

Mae Suay Police Station superintendent Pol Colonel Wichan Churit yesterday morning said investigators had already interviewed 19 people who staffed the community checkpoint.
According to Wichan, at least two people had fired guns on Tuesday night. A simulation of the incident was held on Wednesday night to check ballistic trajectories. 
Police collected weapons that those manning the checkpoint had been armed with and checkpoint officials also underwent a test for gunshot residue, he added.
Deputy Police Spokesman Pol Colonel Krisana Pattanacharoen said there was strong evidence against the assistant village head.