The waiter, Korrawich Sriboonma, originally from Petchabun Province, was drinking with two friends at a house in Soi Laemka Yai. One of the friends, Surachat Pittaratae, told the others he was going home.
On his way, Surachat was overtaken by five or six teenagers on four motorbikes who gave him the hard stare.
One then threw a beer bottle onto the road in front of Surachat’s bike, infuriating him so much that he gave pursuit, following them all the way to where they lived.
A shouting match ensued, with the young gangsters flinging insults about Surachat’s parents. Surachat was furious but, realising he was outnumbered, he headed back to see Korrawich for reinforcements.
On hearing the story, Korrawich was incensed, and the duo headed off for a confrontation with the gang, meeting them in front of the Family Mart shop at the entrance of Soi Salika.
At a press conference this morning, two of the gang, who had already been captured, told their side of what happened next.
They accused Surachat of making up the story about the bottle. Surachat flung a bottle hard into a trash can near the gang’s leader, Phanuwitch “Knight” A-sana, 19, from Rawai.
Panuwitch objected vociferously and the tension swelled. Korrawich produced a large knife, at which Panuwitch and his group left.
Panuwitch stopped by his home long enough to collect his “Thai pradit” handgun and load it with a .38 bullet. Feeling more secure, he and two members of his gang went looking for Korrawich and his pals. They caught up with them outside the 7-Eleven opposite Wat Sawangarom, where the dispute was resumed.
The night’s to-and-fro finally reached its inevitable conclusion when Panuwitch shot Korrawich just once – enough to kill him instantly.
“It was to defend my friends,” Panuwitch told journalists this morning.
Arrested with him was Jakkapong “Mew” Srisawong, 18, also from Rawai. Police are still looking for the third gang member, Phasit “Nick” Ratthanapa.