A policeman has been detained pending investigation after allegedly shooting dead a young road racer, who he thought was about to attack him, as he attempted to arrest him.
At first, police thought Apidej Khampom, 19, was killed by a rival at the entrance to Ban Khum Ngern village in Tambon Khum Ngern at 10pm Wednesday. But a police sergeant later reported to Yasothon police chief Pol Maj Gen Anuphan Chanpruek that he shot Apidej while attempting to arrest road-racing motorcyclists. The sergeant is an officer attached to Yasothon police headquarters. His identity is currently being withheld.
The sergeant reported that he spotted a group of motorcyclists racing on the road and drove after them. He managed to overtake them and cut in front of them, causing Apidej’s motorcycle to topple over while the other motorcyclists fled the scene. The sergeant claimed that he saw Apidej walking towards his car carrying a weapon so he fired his 9mm pistol at Apidej three times. One bullet pierced the teenager’s right cheek, killing him instantly. The policeman was detained at the Muang police station as officers investigate the alleged killing. ST – EP
