Police were informed of the death by Patong Hospital at 1:30am, where officers arrived to be told that Namphung Peerapap Phusawai, a 15-year-old Myanmar national, had died from gunshot wounds to the head.
An investigation by police reviewed CCTV footage showing the incident occurring just after 1am, with Ms Namphung shot while riding in a white Toyota pickup truck driven by Kittipong Chantawong, 27.
Ms Namphung was sitting on the lap of Nattawut Hemra, 21, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, when she was shot.
The three were driving from Patong towards Phuket Town, police said.
CCTV footage showed that when they reached about 50 metres before the intersection, the pickup truck braked abruptly, and started reversing to engage with a group of youths following behind on motorbikes.
Two of the motorbikes turned off to flee the scene, while another motorbike made its way past the pickup and continued on.
The fourth motorbike, however, saw the pillion passenger jump off the back of the bike only to be struck down by the reversing pickup.
As the pickup truck began pulling away, the youth stood up and pulled out a firearm, and shot at the cab of the pickup.
The shots struck Ms Namphung in the left side of the face and head. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Patong Hospital.
Police reported they had confirmed the identities of the two youths on the motorbike involved in the shooting. The driver was named only as ‘Mr A’ (a pseudonym) as he is 17 years old, while the shooter was identified as 19-year-old Danusorn Kraithong.
Police reported the firearm used as a short-barreled weapon made to fire shotgun cartridges.
Police later reported that the two teenagers had been taken into custody and were facing charges for the shooting death and other miscellaneous gun charges.
At last report police were continuing their investigation.