A police officer was shot dead while he was trying to resolve a dispute between a motorcycle mechanic and a Myanmar national in front of a barber’s shop in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district Friday night.
The motorcycle mechanic and suspected gunman, identified as Annop Srisueb, is in police custody.
According to a Sai Mai police report, the two men were in dispute over an, as yet, unknown matter.
The mechanic’s wife allegedly called to ask friends to come to the barber’s shop, while the Burmese man went to the nearby Sai Mai police station to seek help. Pol Lt Banrung Kesaporn, the deputy inspector on duty at the time, then accompanied the Burmese man to the barber’s shop to investigate.
The two men resumed their quarrel and the officer intervened, but Annop allegedly produced a handgun and shot at the officer, who died at the scene.
Annop did not attempt to escape and surrendered to police reinforcements, who arrived shortly after being alerted to the incident.
Police searched Annop’s repair shop today and found a 9mm pistol, with one round left in the magazine, and a spare magazine containing 10 rounds of ammunition. The weapon was seized for testing, to determine whether it is the one used to shoot the officer.
Annop has been charged with homicide, possessing a gun without a license and carrying a weapon in public without a permit.
Police say that they will question the suspect’s wife and friends and determine whether charges should be filed against them as well.
