Somchai "Ae Leuk" Iampaijit, a drug suspect wanted for the death of a woman from whom he stole a motorcycle during a police chase, was killed yesterday in a gunfight with police in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district.
Somchai, 33, was seen on CCTV footage on Friday apparently running into the street, stopping a Chatuchak Weekend Market vendor who was passing by, shooting her dead and taking off on her motorbike while evading arrest for drug charges.
Somchai was shot dead during a predawn raid on a house in the Rattanathibet 13 Estate.
At 9am, Nonthaburi Police chief Maj General Thanayuth Wuthijamrasthamrong led officers to the scene where Somchai's body was lying on a lower roof with bullet holes in the left ankle, chin, left torso and right thigh.
Near him was a 9mm pistol - while Bt900 cash and crystal meth were found in a pocket. Somchai's firearm would undergo tests to determine if it was the murder weapon.
Police also seized Nachanok Rodnampa, 21, along with 30 yaba tablets, at another house on the soi.
Nachanok said two days ago a close friend brought Somchai over to stay at his home without telling him who the man was. He said police surrounded his house and told Somchai to surrender but Somchai climbed out a window and jumped onto his neighbour's roof while shooting at the officers. They returned the fire and killed him.
Nachanok said the drugs belonged to his close friend.
Pol Lt-General Winai Thongsong, commissioner of Metropolitan Police, said the 80-strong team didn't overreact and had no choice but to stop Somchai as he fled and opened fire on them.
Police would continue to hunt for accomplices as the house where Somchai laid low was found to have drugs hidden inside, he said.
