In the early hours of August 18th, a tragic shooting at a bar in Soi 80, Hua Hin, resulted in the death of an army sergeant and left three others injured. The incident occurred around 4:00 AM at TINY Pub, a known establishment in the city’s nightlife area. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find patrons exiting the bar, visibly shaken by the incident.
Inside the pub, police discovered the lifeless body of Sgt. Rojchanapon Rojchanapanich, a sergeant stationed at Thanarat Camp in Pranburi. Two other individuals were injured, with one man being grazed by a bullet on his right arm. Initial reports revealed that over 50 patrons were present at the time of the shooting, despite the pub operating without a license and staying open past legal hours.
Eyewitnesses stated that the shooting occurred when Sgt. Rojchanapon, who had come to the pub after finishing work as a bouncer at another venue, accidentally bumped into a woman. This woman was reportedly a friend of the shooter, known by his nickname “Zen,” who immediately pulled out a gun and shot the sergeant in the back. Zen then fired two more shots, hitting the victim in the head and body.
As the chaos unfolded, patrons rushed to escape, including Zen, who fled the scene. Zen, a well-known figure in the nightlife scene and a member of the Hua Hin Police Advisory Board, surrendered to police around 1:30 PM the same day. He is facing charges of intentional homicide and illegal possession of a firearm.
The victim’s mother, Suporada Wannapan, expressed her heartbreak at the loss of her eldest son, recalling their last meeting on August 12th, which coincided with his birthday. The victim’s wife also arrived at the scene later in the day and was overwhelmed with grief, requiring medical attention.
Following Zen’s surrender, the Commander of Provincial Police Region 7 ordered his immediate removal from the advisory board and vowed to pursue the case to the fullest extent of the law. Authorities also ordered the closure of TINY Pub for five years and initiated legal proceedings against its owner for operating illegally. The shooter was denied bail.
The incident has sparked public outrage, with many questioning why authorities allowed the unlicensed pub to operate for so long, despite its proximity to the Hua Hin police station.
