Following a Border Patrol Police officer’s shooting at a motorcycle taxi stand in Huai Khwang, one more injured person has died. Meanwhile, the wife expressed concern about the case, fearing injustice, and lamented society’s defense of the perpetrator, questioning the officer's mental health and why he carried a gun off duty.
An update on the case involving Police Lieutenant Colonel Namthap, 33, of the Border Patrol Police, who had a verbal dispute with motorcycle taxi drivers in front of Soi Prachasongkhro 38, Huai Khwang, Bangkok. After failing to agree on the fare, the argument escalated into a fight and the officer fired his gun, killing Mr. Purit, or Boy, 37, at the scene. Two others were injured: Mr. Charin, or Ball, 48, seriously wounded, and Mr. Kiattisak, 46.
It has now been reported that Mr. Charin, or Ball, has died due to brain death and unresponsiveness to treatment. His family plans to take his body to Wat Kun Natee Ruththaram (Wat Huai Khwang) in Ratchadaphisek Subdistrict, Din Daeng District, this afternoon for funeral rites.
At Huai Khwang Police Station in the morning, the deceased’s wife and fellow motorcycle taxi drivers came to the station. Ms. Benjawan, wife of Mr. Ball, filed an additional police report after an unknown man came to the taxi stand yesterday, threatening her life verbally. She admitted feeling worried, fearing injustice because the perpetrator is a police officer, while the victims are ordinary citizens.
Ms. Benjawan also said she felt sad that society defends the perpetrator, treating her family’s loss as a joke without understanding the real cause. People only saw a clip where the deceased kicked the perpetrator first but do not know who started the trouble.
Regarding the perpetrator’s claim of mental illness and not being on duty, she questioned why he needed to carry a gun at all times, then confront motorcycle taxi drivers over fares, provoking and challenging them. Those who did not witness the incident or see the full video have only attacked the victims.
Meanwhile, Ms. Phueng, wife of Mr. Purit who died at the scene, also came to Huai Khwang Police Station and admitted she fears injustice since her husband cannot speak for himself. She intends to oppose bail in court. She expressed sadness that some social media pages defend the perpetrator, even opening donation accounts to support the offender. She does not want to retaliate but urges people to consider how they would feel if their own family suffered such a loss.