Angry relatives try to attack suspect at cop’s funeral

Scuffles broke out as angry relatives attempted to attack a youth arrested in connection with the death of a volunteer policeman.

The 19 year old suspect in a bullet proof vest had to be hurriedly taken away by a large police guard after he prayed for forgiveness in front of the corpse of the policeman at a temple in Chantaburi yesterday, Daily News reports.

Thanapon Tripol, just 17, was shot dead as he attempted to break up a fight behind an entertainment venue in Chantaburi. The shooter is still on the loose and may have fled across the border, say police.

Many police colleagues and a large guard joined the bathing rites at the Klong Sanam Pao temple yesterday along with the dead cop’s mother and father and six year old brother. After one of the suspects in the shooting, Panuwat (or Mai) Sa-artjit, 19, had apologised in front of the coffin relatives and friends of the victim tried to get at him.

He was quickly rushed away.

Meanwhile, police are desperate to catch the shooter in the incident who they have named as Thamrongchai (or Mouth) Sa-artjit,25, and say he may have crossed over the border. They are coordinating with other forces in a neighbouring country. They said that Thamronchai has a conviction for rape and has committed a string of other offences over the years.

Nareumon Suksamran, the mother of the slain policeman, said that her son was a good guy loved by all his family. He had only wanted to be a policeman and help society and was killed before his 18th birthday that would have been this Saturday.

Thai Visa / Daily News

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