SONGKHLA: A passenger van driver was wounded in a road-rage incident on Saturday, after shots were fired by a man who later claimed the van had cut in front of his car.
Lukman Hayeelador, 29, of Yi-ngo district in Narathiwat, was apprehended on Phetkasem Soi 35 in Hat Yai not long after the incident in neighbouring Na Mom district.
The attack occurred around 10am on Asia Road in Khuan Jong village of tambon Na Mom when shots were fired from a car into the van. Horlahudee Yanya, the van driver, was wounded in the right leg.
A friend of the injured driver used his phone to take video of the attack. It captured an image of the white car with Songkhla licence plates.
Police checked the registration and traced the car to Phetkasem Soi 35, where the suspect was found inside the car with two friends.
Mr Lukman, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, admitted to having opened fire alone. He insisted his two friends were not involved.
Police seized an 11mm pistol and nine bullets from him. The gun was illegal.
The suspect told police he became angry after the van driver cut in front of his car earlier at the Don Yang intersection in Pattani. His friend, who was driving the car, followed the van for about 70 kilometres, catching up with it in Na Mom, where the suspect fired three shots at the van driver.
Police initially pressed four counts of charges of attempted murder, illegal possession of a weapon and ammunition, carrying a weapon without permission and firing shots without a sound reason. He was being held in police custody at the Na Mom station.
An unregistered gun and nine bullets were seized from the suspect. (Photo by Assawin Pakkawan)