PATTAYA: Police have begun questioning a man wounded in a late-night shooting in South Pattaya after doctors removed a bullet fragment from his foot, while the alleged shooter remains under police watch in hospital and has not yet been charged.
The incident involved “Mack”, 29, a Territorial Defense Volunteer (Or Sor) from Banglamung district, who is accused of firing a 9mm Glock 43 at “Ball”, 36. Ball was shot in the left leg. A stray shot also struck Mack in his own right leg, and Mack’s girlfriend suffered a cut to the eyebrow.
The shooting occurred just after 2 a.m. on August 31st near the entrance to Soi Pattaya Tai 3.
On the morning of the same day, officers from Pattaya City Police Station brought Ball in for questioning after surgery. Doctors removed a bullet fragment from the back of his foot. The round had passed through and grazed the sole, leaving additional fragments that could not all be extracted.
Police interviewed Ball to reconstruct the events. The media were not allowed to observe the questioning.
Mack remains at Pattaya Patamakun Hospital with a gunshot wound to his right leg. Two officers are stationed with him to prevent escape or a confrontation with the other side.
Investigators have not yet charged Mack. They said they will wait until his condition improves before conducting a detailed interview and deciding on charges.
Rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan radio center received a report at about 2:19 a.m. that someone had been shot. They found a bronze-colored Isuzu pickup at the scene. Mack was inside with a heavily bleeding wound to his right leg and was taken to the hospital after first aid.
Witnesses said both men had been celebrating a birthday at a nearby restaurant/club when a fight broke out. Their accounts of the argument differ.
More than 100 friends and associates of both men later gathered at the scene and followed them to Muang Pattaya Hospital, creating a tense atmosphere. Police moved to keep the situation under control and prevent further violence inside the hospital.
To avoid another confrontation, authorities separated the wounded men. Mack was transferred to Pattaya Patamakun Hospital; Ball was taken to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
Pattaya City Police investigators are still gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. No charges have been filed against either man. Officials said they will proceed according to the evidence.
