Court approves warrant for man who allegedly shot protest volunteer guard
A former vocational college student, who is suspected of shooting a guard after a pro-democracy protest had ended on Thursday, faces arrest on multiple charges in a conflict between rival groups.
Also read: Two critically injured after shooting at rally site in front of SCB headquarters
The Criminal Court on Thursday approved an arrest warrant for Passapong Kunamonkan, 25, of Min Buri Polytechnic Technology College. Passaporn was caught and beaten up after he allegedly threw a ping-pong bomb and fired at a vocational guard group. Prachakorn Saksritao, 20, a former vocational student of Pathumthani Technical College, was shot and is being treated at Rama IX Hospital.
Passaporn was attacked by the rival group and later taken to St Louis Hospital.
Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Pol Maj-General Jirapat Phumichit addressed a brief press conference on Thursday after inspecting the crime scene in front of Avenue Ratchayothin Department Store.
Jirapat said that since the clash had happened after the pro-democracy protest had ended, it would be considered a personal conflict.
Police are now checking gun registration records and finger prints.
The two rival groups are reportedly former students of the two institutions. They had joined the rally as guards but had a conflict in the past, which may be considered a personal issue, Jirapat said. One group allegedly threw a ping-pong bomb first and ran away. They were chased by the rival group when an armed guard fired at his foe, he said.
Jirapat said the exact cause of the clashes was being investigated.
He said no third party was involved and it was not linked to the pro-democracy protest as the rally had already ended.
The investigation officer of Phaholyothin Police Station had sought an arrest warrant approval for Passapong on charges of attempted murder, possession of firearms and ammunition without permission, and shooting in the city, villages or the public without reasonable grounds.