LAMPANG, THAILAND – Police in Lampang faced sharp criticism after a 14-year-old motorcyclist was shot in the arm, raising questions over the proportionality of the police response.
Shooting of a teenager
On Tuesday, 24 March, a 14-year-old Thai boy was shot in the arm by a police officer in Mueang Lampang. Emergency responders were called to give first aid before he was taken to hospital.
The boy was later reported to be in stable condition. He said the incident happened at around 10 p.m. while he was riding with an older friend on their way to a petrol station.
Chase and gunshots
According to the teenager, they were at a junction when an officer left a police facility, got on a motorcycle and followed them. Fearing arrest because of their modified motorcycle exhaust systems, they sped up.
When they heard gunshots and stopped, the boy realised he had been hit in the arm. He said the officer had shot him and then kicked his motorcycle, causing it to fall.
Public criticism of the police
The incident triggered public anger, with many questioning whether the use of a firearm was justified. Critics argued that firing a weapon was excessive, especially in a case involving alleged vehicle modifications.
A 28-year-old witness who saw the events unfold said he noticed the chase while driving home and heard gunshots, which frightened him.
Eyewitness accounts and their impact
The witness initially thought the teenagers might be drug suspects. After learning from the news that the case was about modified motorcycles, he described the shooting as inappropriate.
He stressed that firing a gun on a public road endangered not only the teenagers but also other road users, and he offered to give testimony in support of the injured boy.
Police response to allegations
In response to the criticism, Lampang police commander Phumpanya Nawatrakunpisut said he had reviewed surveillance camera footage from the junction. He put the blame on the teenagers, claiming they had behaved provocatively towards the officers.
Phumpanya said the youths had loudly revved their engines while waiting at the traffic light and responded to the officer with a gesture he described as a challenge. The events leading up to the shooting remained under investigation.