PHUKET – Police on Tuesday arrested two youths for killing a man and injuring another after they sprayed bullets across the resort island’s main tourist pier.
The Phuket News reported that Isayat Malee, 28 from Narathiwat, died from a gunshot wound fired at close range in the car park at Chalong pier on Friday. His friend, Amdee Jaolaeh, 19 from Pattani, was wounded in the attack.
Chalong pier is the main jumping-off point for tourists visiting Phuket's nearby islands.
"Police arrested Ekkasit Kongsamuk, 18 from Trang, and Phuket native Kawatchai Tingwai, 21, yesterday," Phuket Provincial Police commander Pachara Boonyasit told a press conference Tuesday.
"They confessed that they fully intended to shoot to kill when they opened fire," he said, though both suspects remained silent throughout the press conference at Phuket Provincial Police station in Phuket Town today.
The pair were found in possession of a 9mm Glock, a 9mm magazine and a total of 19 bullets and drug paraphernalia, Pol Gen Pachara said.
Mr Ekkasit and Mr Kawatchai have been charged with premeditated murder, illegal possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm in public, he added.
"Kawatchai confessed to firing the gun," Pol Gen Pachara said.
The motive behind the shooting seems to be nothing more than personal conflict.
"The main reason of this shooting case is that they did not like each other," Pol Gen Pachara said. "They started arguing and the victim [Isayat] raised his voiced against the shooter."