Nawong: Police are working to unravel the case of a gunman using an M16 rifle to shoot Kamnan Len 15 times, killing him in his pickup truck while he was parked in front of his residence in Nawong Subdistrict Municipality, Trang Province. Initially, two key factors were being considered: personal conflict and local politics.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Maj. Gen. Wara Wechachaphinan, Deputy Commander of Provincial Police Region 9, traveled to Trang Province to chair a meeting with the Trang Provincial Police Investigation Team, Huai Yot Police Station officers, forensic officers, and the Crime Suppression Division to follow up on the progress of the case. The incident involved a perpetrator using an M16 war weapon to shoot Mr. Bandit, or Kamnan Len, 57, the headman of Nawong Subdistrict and president of the Kamnan and Village Headman Club of Huai Yot District, Trang Province.
The incident occurred late on August 3rd. Surveillance cameras captured Kamnan Len reversing his pickup truck into a house in the Nawong Subdistrict Municipality. Meanwhile, a black-clad assailant ran out of a market building next to his house and fired an M16 rifle at him before fleeing the scene. An inspection of the driver’s door revealed 15 bullet holes. Kamnan Len was shot in the right cheekbone, torso, and fingers before dying on the way to the hospital.
Police are focusing on personal conflicts and local politics. Initially, officers met for over an hour, after Pol. Maj. Gen. Wara revealed that the case has progressed more than 50%. Police have identified two main areas of investigation: personal conflict and local politics. Other issues, such as the village headman’s performance of duties and the progress in the drug suppression effort, remain undisclosed, as they could anger those with vested interests.
The investigation revealed that the perpetrator was skilled in the use of firearms, particularly war weapons. However, it cannot be concluded whether he was a hired gun or not, as he may have been simply someone who had trained and become proficient in using weapons himself. It is also unclear whether the perpetrator had a “limp” or not.
If any government officials or local leaders are concerned about safety, they can coordinate with the police to maintain peace and order. The police are ready to support all security missions.