Sa Kaeo: Police say they have identified the group of teenagers who killed a woman by throwing beer bottles at her.
She died from injuries sustained while trying to protect her son at a fair in Khlong Hat district on Tuesday.
Khlong Hat investigator Rungroj Chaoyotha said police had identified suspects but could not release their identities since they were under age.
At least two suspects were known among local youths as Ice and Ble. Police did not say how many suspects were involved in the attack.
Pol Lt Rungroj said the suspects have been summonsed to report to police. He said they had two chances to answer the summons. If they failed to answer either time, a court would be asked to issue arrest warrants.
On Tuesday, Ranjuan Jongrak, 40, was returning home with her son, identified only as Aye, 19, and relatives from a local rose apple fair at about 1am when they were confronted at a parking lot by the group of teenagers. Ice and Ble were among them, Aye told police.
The family stood by their car as they waited for Ranjuan’s husband, Pichet Jongrak, who worked as a security volunteer at the fair. About 17 teenagers arrived in a pickup truck, pulled over beside their car and started throwing empty beer bottles at the family.
Ranjuan threw herself in front of Aye to shield him from the flying bottles, which hit her on one side of her face. She was bleeding heavily from her mouth and nose and collapsed, said Aye, who suffered minor injuries.
Ranjuan was taken to Khlong Hat Hospital 200m away. She died several hours later from her injuries.
Patsunan Aramrueng, 38, a friend of the Jongrak family, said she was told Aye had a fight with the teenage group three months ago and again only three days before Tuesday's attack.
The district chief had called for Aye and the group to meet and settle their differences. They agreed to end their rivalry, Ms Patsunan said.
Pol Lt Rungroj said there was no evidence to suggest the group was operating as a crime gang. They have been given a deadline of up to 15 days to answer the summonses and banned from leaving the province.
Aye said the family would not cremate his mother until the police catch the killers.