A man who allegedly shot dead a 16-year old Thai boxer told the police after his arrest that he mistook the victim as a rival whom he engaged in fist fight at a recent temple fair in Nong Harn district of Udon Thani.
The victim, Nanthapong Rakfa who was known in the Thai boxing circle as Meesap Tor Itthiporn, was shot dead on the night of March 19 beside the wall of Wat Po Sri in Tambon Ban Chiang, Nong Harn district.
Police rounded up nine suspects aged from 17-21 the following day, but one of them, a 21-year old man, admitted to the police that he was the shooter because he thought the victim was a rival against whom he had a fight with at a recent temple fair.
The suspected shooter said that as he was leaving the temple fair on Monday night he saw the victim riding on a motorcycle and ordered the latter to stop. Then he beat him up before shooting him.
Police searched the suspect’s house and found two home-made guns and three motorcycles.
The victim’s grandmother, Mrs Ladda Klommit, told the media at the funeral rite that Nanthapong started boxing at the age of nine and was admitted into a boxing camp in Udon Thani. He received a boxing bronze from the National Youth Sports Competition last year before turning pro as a Thai boxer.
A 16-year old Thai boxer Nanthapong Rakfa
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