LAMPANG – Provincial Police are investigating a case involving a 14-year-old boy who was shot through the arm after a late-night motorcycle chase by a local polce officer. Surveillance footage from the Phra Bat intersection is now part of the review, and the provincial police chief says any officer found at fault will face action.
The shooting happened on Tuesday night. The injured teen is being treated at Lampang Hospital for a gunshot wound that went through his left arm. Early accounts said he was riding the wrong way and tried to flee because he feared being stopped over a loud exhaust pipe. A police officer from the Phra Bat patrol unit then chased him.
On March 25, reporters spoke with an 18-year-old friend who was riding with the teen before the incident. He said his motorcycle was almost out of gas, so the younger boy helped push it from near their home to the Phra Bat traffic light, where the patrol post is located. He said there was one police officer at the post at the time, and when the officer heard the loud exhaust, he rode out to follow them.
The friend said he then sped away and ran the red light. The injured teen followed behind on another motorcycle, but there was some distance between them. After passing the area, he looked back and saw the other bike go down. He also said the officer continued the chase, so he fled toward a university area nearby before turning into tall grass to hide.
Later, when the officer had gone, he pushed his motorcycle out. Because the bike had run out of fuel, he walked it to the airport market area to find his girlfriend. After that, he left the bike at a dormitory and returned on his girlfriend’s motorcycle to report the incident at the patrol post, but he said no officers were there.
Meanwhile, Lampang Provincial Police Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Phumipanya Nawattrakulpisut showed reporters CCTV footage from the Phra Bat intersection. The video reportedly shows the two motorcycles stopping at the red light, with very loud exhaust noise. Police said the riders then raised their hands in a taunting gesture toward the officer at the patrol post before running the red light and riding away. After that, the officer began the pursuit.
The police chief said that once he learned about the case, he immediately ordered the officer involved to be moved from his regular duties for the time being. He also instructed the superintendent of Mueang Lampang Police Station to submit a full report explaining what happened and how the teen was injured.
After that, provincial police will appoint a fact-finding committee to examine the case in detail and determine who was at fault.
He said the investigation must be fair to both sides. If the officer intentionally shot the teen or acted improperly, legal action will follow. However, if the evidence shows there was no intent to shoot, police must also receive fair treatment while carrying out their duties.
The commander added that the CCTV footage shows there was an earlier incident before the shooting, and that context matters. He said the case has to be checked carefully from all angles. Still, he made it clear that he will not protect anyone who broke the law. At the same time, if the officer did not do anything wrong, he will stand by his subordinate.
He also said that during school breaks, more young people often gather and cause public nuisance, which means officers have to work harder to keep order and prevent trouble for local residents.
