PRACHIN BURI- A policeman faces a charge of murder after one man was shot dead and another wounded during a pub brawl in Muang district in the early hours of Thursday.
The shooting occurred at the front of Ratchada pub on Ratchadamri Road behind the Muang municipality office around 12.30am, said Pol Col Mongkol Ralintha, a duty-officer at Muang police station.
Two wounded men were rushed to a nearby hospital by rescue workers before police arrived at the scene. One of the wounded men, Anurak Buramee, 30, was pronounced dead at the hospital. He had been shot in the back.
The fatal shooting occurred in front of Ratchada pub in Muang district, Prachin Buri, shortly before it closed for the night. (Photo by Manit Sanubboon)
The other injured man was identified as Nukulkit Pakpiansil, 30, a member of the provincial administration organisation and son of a former mayor of Muang municipality. He was shot in the left shoulder.
Both were allegedly shot by Pol Snr Sgt Major Sumet In-iem, a traffic officer attached to Muang police station. He fled after the shooting.
Mr Nukulkit told police from his hospital bed that he and a woman friend went to the pub on Wednesday night. While there he met some friends and they sat down with them.
As he and his friends were leaving, shortly before the pub closed, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Sumet, who had a dispute with one of his friends, walked up to them and began arguing, the wounded councillor said. He claimed Pol Snr Sgt Maj Sumet was in the company of about 10 other policemen.
The argument became a violent brawl, during which Pol Snr Sgt Maj Sumet fired three shots at him, Mr Nukulkit said. One shot hit him in the left shoulder, and he fell to the ground. His friend Anurak moved in to assist him, and was shot in the back. He later died.
Pol Col Suwan Chiewnawinthawat, chief of Muang police, said the two groups had been involved in previous brawls.
Police were tracking down the shooter, who faces a preliminary charge of murder.