A late-night dispute at a bar in Pattaya escalated into a shooting early Monday morning, leaving two men injured after three shots were fired outside the venue on South Pattaya Road.
Police were called to the bar in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, at around 2.30am following reports of a fight.
Two men injured in Pattaya shooting
Police arriving at the scene found two injured men.
One was identified as 29-year-old Mongkol “Max” Khamprasong, who suffered a gunshot wound to his right calf. His girlfriend, who reportedly tried to intervene in the confrontation, also sustained a head injury.
Police later found a firearm inside Mongkol’s nearby pickup truck and seized it for examination.
The second injured man, 36-year-old Ratchaphon “Ball” Namjaidee, suffered facial swelling and a gunshot wound to his left foot.
Both men were initially taken to Pattaya City Hospital. They were later treated at separate hospitals after groups of friends supporting the two men gathered at the hospital, prompting staff to separate the patients for safety reasons.
Ratchaphon’s relatives later requested his transfer to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
Conflicting accounts of Pattaya bar shooting
Police said Mongkol appeared intoxicated when questioned about the incident. He reportedly told officers he did not know who started the argument at his table inside the bar.
According to Mongkol’s account, he left the bar and went to his pickup truck. He said a group of Ratchaphon’s friends then surrounded the vehicle.
Mongkol alleged that when he lowered the window to speak with them, he and his girlfriend were punched.
Ratchaphon gave police a different account.
He said he entered the bar and approached Mongkol’s group because he wanted to greet a senior acquaintance. Ratchaphon alleged that Mongkol suddenly punched him without explanation.
He told police the two men had experienced problems with each other in the past, although he declined to provide further details.
Ratchaphon said he followed Mongkol outside after the alleged assault. When Mongkol got into an Isuzu D-Max pickup, Ratchaphon said he stood in front of the vehicle in an attempt to speak with him.
He alleged Mongkol then pulled out a firearm and fired three shots. One bullet struck the back of his foot.
Ratchaphon told police he was not carrying a firearm and said he did not know how Mongkol was wounded.
Police investigate shooting in South Pattaya
Police said CCTV footage from inside and outside the bar will be reviewed to establish what happened before the shooting and identify how the confrontation escalated.
The firearm recovered from Mongkol’s pickup will also undergo forensic examination.
Police said they will determine the appropriate charges after reviewing the CCTV footage, witness statements and forensic evidence.
Officers also noted that Mongkol’s social media profile contains posts involving firearms and appears to indicate familiarity with shooting and regularly carrying a gun. Police said these details will form part of the investigation.
Investigation continues
The two men have provided conflicting accounts of the events leading up to the Pattaya bar shooting. Police are now examining CCTV footage, witness statements and forensic evidence to establish who fired the shots and how both men were injured.
No final charges had been announced at the time of the initial report. The investigation remains ongoing.
