Two police officers in Kamphaeng Phet, one of Thailand’s northern provinces were killed on January 13th. One was seriously wounded.
After arresting 54-year-old Kampolsak Phrikthunglate late Tuesday night on charges of drunk driving, officers loaded the man into the police vehicle and took off down the road. Due to an unfortunate oversight, the officers had forgotten to search the man before placing him in the back seat. The man pulled an 11mm pistol from his person and allegedly opened fire.
Two of the three officers were shot, including the driver. Officer Chamnan Aongyim, the one at the wheel was shot once in the shoulder and again in the spine. Miraculously, he survived the incident. Unfortunately his two fellow officers were would not be so lucky. Pol Lt Col Srisak Srinuan took a shot to the head and chest while and Pol Sr Sgt Maj Apisak Phaofu sustained critical injuries after the car swerved off the road and collided with an electrical tower. They were both pronounced dead at Kamphaeng Phet Hospital. Officer Aongyim may not walk again.
At the same time Kampolsak Phrikthung, the alleged gunman sustained no more than a head wound and a broken leg. The man claimed the gun just went off and that he hadn’t meant to hurt those officers. The man was carrying 40,000 baht he said he needed to pay his brother.
Following the incident, National police adviser Suwat Thamrongsrisakul visited the province. He expressed his sympathies to the victims and their families but was bold enough to mention that the tragedy should not have happened. “The police officers are partly to blame for not inspecting the suspect to see if he was armed, but I believe they did not expect such a violent incident to happen because they were investigating [what they thought was just] a car accident,” Pol Gen Suwat said. This will be a mistake Officer Aongyim will never forget.
The Royal Thai Police Office have announced that will supply an initial aid of 85,000 baht to the injured officer to fund his recovery.
