Bangkok: Police pursued a suspect in an attempted murder case, but the suspect fired shots, injuring two juveniles. Police pursued "Tob," a suspect wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for attempted murder, but he instead pulled out a gun and fired at police, injuring one officer and two juveniles before escaping.
According to Thai News Agency, undercover police officers from Tha Ruea Police Station spotted a suspect, wanted on an old arrest warrant for attempted murder, parked his car to buy noodles. They identified themselves and requested to conduct a search, but Mr. Burin, 46, or "Top," fired a gun at the police, injuring them. He then attempted to flee into the Khlong Toei community, Blocks 4-5-6, Intersection 10, and returned fire, injuring a bystander before escaping.
CCTV footage showed a 13-year-old girl falling after the gunshots, while another ran for cover inside a house. It was later learned that both were injured; one was shot in the right leg and the other in the buttocks. Additionally, it was reported that Police Lieutenant Paiboon Chanoonan, deputy inspector of the crime suppression unit at Tha Ruea Police Station, was shot in the left hand.
Police later learned that Mr. Burin ran into an alleyway leading to the old railway road and hailed a motorcycle taxi to take him to a gas station on Kasem Rat Road in Khlong Toei district. A special operations unit from the Metropolitan Police Division 5 and other special operations officers then checked the gas station again but did not find Mr. Burin.
Mr. Phattaraphol, a relative of the two injured 13-year-old juveniles, revealed that the injured were his sister and niece. At the time of the incident, they were walking to buy groceries at the end of the street. While returning home, they heard gunshots and shouting, so they tried to run inside for cover. One was shot in the thigh with an air rifle and fell, while the other was shot in the buttocks. They are currently receiving medical treatment and need surgery to remove the bullets. He wants the police to track down the perpetrators and hold those responsible accountable.
Following the incident, Police Lieutenant General Noppasit Poolsawat, Commander of the Royal Thai Police Headquarters, along with Police Major General Witthawat Chinkam, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 5, immediately convened a meeting of the investigative team at Tha Ruea Police Station to expedite the arrest of Mr. Burin for prosecution.
Police Major General Witawat revealed that the perpetrator has fled the area, as they are a local resident familiar with the area's layout and escape routes. An investigation team has been dispatched to quickly track down the perpetrator and bring them to justice.
Burin, the perpetrator, was wanted on an arrest warrant for attempted murder, specifically for using a knife to attack others during the Songkran festival in April. The Bangkok South Criminal Court issued the warrant on December 16th. Police from Tha Ruea Police Station had been monitoring him and were preparing to search his residence today (December 25th). However, after receiving a tip from an informant about Burin's movements leaving his home, police attempted to apprehend him. Burin then used a firearm he was carrying to shoot at police, resulting in a shootout that injured two juveniles.