Pattaya Police and station volunteers are under investigation for the near-fatal shooting of two men who opened fire on an officer pursuing them for evading a South Pattaya checkpoint.
A “mystery gunshot” was being blamed for injuries to Hemrat Saworn, 25, and Chokchai Homsombut, 32, during a June 25 police pursuit that ended on Third Road near the Szechuan restaurant. At least one shot was responsible for covering the inside of the truck’s cab with blood.
Officers and police volunteers involved in the chase are checked for gunshot residue to determine who fired at the suspects instead of the Toyota’s tires.
Maj. Gen. Khatcha Thatsart, commander of Chonburi Police Station, ordered officers and police volunteers involved in the chase detained and checked for gunshot residue to determine who fired at the suspects instead of the Toyota’s tires.
The incident began around 9:30 p.m. when Hemrat and Chokchai, seeing a checkpoint at the Soi Kophai end of Rungland Village, stopped and reversed to prevent officers from searching their truck. About five uniformed officers and volunteers gave pursuit to the entrance of Soi VC where one suspect allegedly pulled out a gun and fired at the closest pursuing officers.
In doing so, the Vios crashed into four cars. Police then opened fire, shooting at the truck’s front tire, which caused it to crash into yet another parked vehicle.
The gunshot didn’t stop the car, however. Police said the suspects reversed course, hitting volunteers Khomsan Prongklom, 33, and Nattawut Sreewinij. Both were later hospitalized.
At that point, blood spattered the inside windows of the truck as the “mystery gunshot” stopped the suspects. Screaming in pain, both were transported to Pattaya Memorial Hospital.
Police recovered a loaded 9mm pistol from the truck, but provincial police supervisors ordered an immediate investigation of the actions of both the suspects and police to ensure justice for both sides.
