An armed conflict between youth gangs on Pattaya Beach Road on the evening of Aug 26 left 2 teenagers severely injured, one with cuts and bruises and the other with bullet wounds. A set of brass knuckles and a pen-pistol were found nearby.
15-year-old Thannapong Salueai suffered severe wounds on his shoulders, right arm, and hand, inflicted by a sharp weapon. About 200 meters away, 17-year-old Phaisal Kamphaeng was getting treatment for gunshot wounds to his left leg. Both of them were rushed off to a hospital.
Local residents told police that a large group of teenagers donning safety helmets and brandishing weapons confronted each other before tensions escalated into a brawl, culminating in gunfire. Witnesses captured evidence of the altercation on video, which police have not released to the public to avoid hindering arrests of the wrongdoers.
Police are investigating by scrutinizing closed-circuit television footage from the incident area and escape routes to determine motives and identify all involved parties in the violent brawl to be brought in to face legal proceedings.
