SURAT THANI : A 23-year-old British tourist was killed by a stray bullet during a fight involving a group of Thai men in a bar at Koh Phangan's Haad Rin Beach early on New Year's day.
Stephen Ashton was with a group of friends and 300 other tourists in the 2013 countdown party at a pub and restaurant named Zoom Bar when he was shot by a home-made gun shortly after 4am, Pol Col Kittakarn Kramomthong, chief of Koh Phangan station said.
According to witnesses who spoke to police investigators, two groups of Thai customers numbering between five and seven started arguing.
Their row escalated into a fistfight in the crowded bar.
One of the groups ran out of the bar and one man turned and fired a shot back into the bar, causing panic and chaos.
The bullet hit Ashton in the torso, seriously injuring him.
He was sent to Ban Don International Hospital and was later pronounced dead.
Ashton was visiting the island with four or five friends and had stayed at the Pink Bungalow on Haad Rin.
Police launched a search for a 26-year-old man identified as Ekkapan Kaewkla, or Lae Kaewkla.
About noon, a team of police led by Pol Col Kittakarn arrested the suspect in tambon Ban Tai.
Mr Ekkapan was found with a home-made gun which police believe was used in the shooting.
Mr Ekkapan denied he fired the shot that killed Ashton but admitted he had fought with another group of men while partying at Zoom Bar.
Pol Col Kittakarn said police had several witnesses and enough evidence to prosecute the suspect.
Royal Thai Police adviser, Pol Gen Rachata Yensuang, Pol Lt Gen Kittisan Dejsoonthornwat, the Provincial Police Region 8 deputy commissioner, and Surat Thani provincial police chief Kiattipong Khaosum-ang will interrogate the suspect at Kho Phangan station today, he said.