Thalang Police arrested Sitthiporn Chanapal, 33, at his residence in Srisoonthorn yesterday (Aug 21).
He was wanted for shooting another man, Songkran Rawangpai, 24, a resident of Thepkrasattri, on Sunday (Aug 20).
Thalang Police said they were first informed of the incident by Thalang Hospital late Sunday night (Aug 20), when they were told that a man had suffered a gunshot wound to the back of his right arm. The “bullet” was found lodged in the wound.
Relatives of the victim revealed that the incident occurred around 6pm on Sunday. Subsequent investigations by police revealed that the shooting occurred within the vicinity of a private garden along the Baan Ya-Thung Soue Khuan Rd, in Srisoonthorn.
The suspect, Sitthiporn, was known to frequently use air-powered firearms to shoot at birds in the area.
In placing Sitthiporn under arrest, officers seized a Black Panther EVO airgun with a 24-inch barrel, and matching ammunition.
Sitthiporn confessed that on Sunday evening, around 6pm, he brought the airgun to a garden belonging to his father and uncle, reported Thalang Police.
He intended to use the airgun to deter birds from damaging agricultural crops.
At about 6:30pm, a Thai man, later confirmed to be Songkran, entered the garden and started stealing “crops”, Thalang Police said.
After several confrontations, Songkran returned to steal crops again. An argument ensued between Songkran and Sitthiporn’s uncle. Frustrated by the situation, Sitthiporn fired his firearm, “without aiming directly at the man”, Thalang Police were told.
Sitthiporn has been detained for further investigation and charged with "possession of a firearm without permission”, Thalang Police confirmed.
Police are continuing their investigation.
The incident and arrest highlights the importance of responsible firearm ownership and the potential risks of using firearms inappropriately, Thalang Police noted.