21-9-2023 (BANGKOK) A police officer assigned to a special operations unit was fatally shot with an M16 rifle by a colleague on Wednesday. The incident has prompted Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, the national police chief, to order an urgent investigation into the matter.
Upon receiving the alert, a police team led by Pol Col Apakorn Wirupak-arak, the Rangae police chief, along with forensic officers, swiftly arrived at the operations base located in Ban Lamu, tambon Tanyong Limo, to commence the investigation.
Preliminary findings from the investigation revealed that Pol Sgt Wisit Kaewpi, 32, was on guard duty at the command building, accompanied by four to five other policemen engaged in conversation at a nearby table. Suddenly, Pol Sgt Tacharin Kaewkong, 32, stormed into the building and opened fire at Pol Sgt Wisit using an M16 rifle.
The victim sustained four gunshot wounds to the chest and tragically succumbed to his injuries on the spot.
The unexpected eruption of gunfire caused panic among the other policemen present, who scrambled for safety within the building.
Following the shooting, Pol Sgt Tacharin fled the base and concealed the M16 rifle in a nearby rubber plantation. He then proceeded to a tea shop in the village.
Pol Sgt Tacharin remained in the village for a period before eventually making his way to the operations base of Ranger Company 4505. There, he confessed his crime to the rangers and requested them to arrange for his surrender. The rangers promptly reported the incident to the Rangae police station.
Subsequently, Pol Maj Nima Aming, the Rangae police chief investigator, led a team of officers to the Ranger Company 4504 operations base, apprehending Pol Sgt Tacharin and recovering the concealed rifle.
Pol Sgt Tacharin was then taken into custody and transported to the Rangae police station for detention.
In Bangkok, Pol Gen Damrongsak issued instructions to Pol Lt Gen Nanthadet Yoinual, the Provincial Police Region 9 commissioner, to initiate an immediate investigation into the incident.
