Journalist Seriously Injured After Getting Blasted by Shotgun in Pattaya

A shooting incident occurred in Pattaya yesterday morning, leaving a journalist seriously injured.


Pattaya police received a report of the incident around 7 AM today, December 13th, before mobilizing investigators and rescue personnel to the scene. The incident happened on Soi Sai Sam on Pettrakul Road, Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chonburi province.

Upon arrival, authorities discovered a red Honda PCX motorcycle overturned in the middle of the road. Nearby, Mr. Nattapat Boonchalee, a 28-year-old Pattaya-based assistant news reporter, was found with severe injuries to his left cheek and head. Emergency medical assistance was immediately provided before Mr. Nattapat was transported to a nearby hospital. A subsequent medical examination revealed that there were over 40 shotgun pellets lodged in his eye socket and head.

According to a friend of the victim, Mr. O (pseudonym), they were having breakfast at a hot pot restaurant less than one kilometer from the incident site moments before the shooting. A red sedan followed by a motorcycle entered the restaurant shortly before Mr. O left to take his child to school. Upon returning, he found Mr. Nattapat seriously injured on the road and promptly notified emergency services.


Local residents reported that they heard a loud noise around the time of the incident. However, they did not witness the actual events leading up to the attack.


Pol. Col. Navin Theeravit, chief of Pattaya Police Station, deployed police officers to interview witnesses and examine CCTV footage in the area. While the motive behind the shooting remains unclear, Pol. Col. Navin suspected that the incident might be connected to the victim’s work as a journalist or a personal conflict.

The Pattaya News wishes for the full recovery of Nattapat and capture of the suspects as soon as possible. Mr. Nattapat has worked in Pattaya reporting for some time, providing local news to all Pattaya news outlets and supporting the Pattaya community, both residents and expats.


Update


At the time of reporting, December 13th, two suspects were arrested by Pattaya police. They are identified as Mr. Rachai Manikarangkun, 36, and Mr. Somrak Kaewkrajang, 39. However, both denied shooting the victim so far, while police are hunting for the suspected shooter.

Journalist Seriously Injured After Getting Blasted by Shotgun in Pattaya - The Pattaya News

Shooter of Pattaya Journalist Surrenders, Claims Self-Defense

The prime suspect in the recent shooting of a local journalist in Pattaya surrendered to authorities yesterday evening. He claimed that the incident was fueled by road rage and that it was in self-defense.

Kwanchai “Peck” Pantong (32), the shooter of a Pattaya-based journalist, Natthapat “Ing” Buncharee (28), surrendered himself at the Banglamung Police Station on December 13th, after hospitalizing Natthapat with a shotgun blast earlier on the same day.

The surrender came after the Pattaya Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant for him for attempted murder and firearm violations.


According to police reports, Kwanchai turned himself in around 10:30 PM after being pressured by law enforcement. Pol. Col. Navin Theeravit, chief of Pattaya Police Station, promptly dispatched an investigative team to take control of the suspect at the Pattaya Police Station.


During initial questioning, Kwanchai reportedly admitted to shooting Natthapat but claimed self-defense as the motive. He stated that while he was riding home with friends on motorbikes, he encountered Natthapat on the road. The victim allegedly cut off Kwanchai and exhibited aggression and provoked a confrontation, prompting Kwanchai, who was intoxicated at the time, to fire his short-barreled shotgun at Natthapat, according to the suspect’s claims. Despite the claims of self-defense, police pointed out that Nattapat was unarmed.

Additionally, Kwanchai denied any prior knowledge of the injured journalist or having any pre-existing conflicts with him. However, he reportedly confessed to deliberately trying to end Natthapat’s life as he shot him in the head, saying “It’s either me or him. I have experienced a similar incident like this before.”


According to police reports, the shot left over 40 shotgun pellets lodged in Natthapat’s eye socket and head. The injuries are so severe he might lose sight in one eye, police said.


The two friends accompanying Kwanchai during the incident, who were arrested earlier, are currently considered witnesses. Pattaya police subsequently took Kwanchai to retrieve the firearm he used in the incident. The suspect discarded the weapon in the grass beside a railway at the front of Soi Sretthi 1 in Pattaya. Kwanchai stated he bought the shotgun from an online black market for 3,500 Baht.


UPDATE: Shooter of Pattaya Journalist Surrenders, Claims Self-Defense - The Pattaya News

So, basically a psychopath, or becomes a psychopath whilst out on the road whilst drunk with his shotgun.

A short-barreled shotgun to the face. Good thing it wasn’t buckshot.

For newcomers to Thailand this incident can be pulled into better focus when one understands that the shooter, akin to most Thai men, has all the emotional intelligence and development of a western 11 year old.