A man was killed and his friend, a soldier, seriously injured by two young gunmen at a fresh market in the heart of Nakhon Si Thammarat town during a quarrel with a group of teenagers, according to Thairath online.
Pol Banpot Iamsak, the duty officer at Muang district police station, said the incident occurred about 4.45am at Khu Khwang market in the Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality.
Eyewitnesses told police that Thisit Thawara, 25, who worked as a cook at a resort in Nop Phitam district, and his friend Chief Warrant Officer Phanuwat Kongmeesri, 29, a 4th Army soldier, walked past a tea shop where six or seven teenagers were having tea together. The youngsters were talking very loudly and the soldier gave them a hard stare.
The two sides then began exchanging insults. Two of the youths pull out guns and opened fire at Thisit and CWO Phanuwat.
Thisit tried in vain to return fire with his 9mm pistol but was shot six times, in the head and body, and died n the spot. CWO Phanuwat was also shot and seriously wounded. He was rushed to Maharaj Hospital.
The teenagers fled in a pick-up truck. Police were investigating.