Thai Man, 50, Opens Fire at Diners in Rage After Waiter Clears His Table

What started as a joyful family gathering in Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand, ended in tragedy on Sunday night, December 22, when a man opened fire at a rice porridge restaurant.

The attack resulted in the deaths of a father and mother, leaving their children orphaned.

The incident took place around 10 p.m. at Khrua Paowana, a restaurant located on Nuan Kaew Uthit Road. According to police and eyewitness accounts, the suspect, identified as 50-year-old Akarapon Pamchamnong, had come to the restaurant alone to drink before the attack.

A Misunderstanding Escalates to Tragedy

Akarapon, a defense volunteer, stepped outside to smoke after a while. When a waiter cleared his table, mistakenly thinking he had finished drinking, it sparked an argument between him, the waiter, and the restaurant owner.

Akarapon drove off and left the scene but later returned, this time, with a gun.

The enraged man fired multiple rounds into the crowded establishment, leaving two people dead and injuring three others.

Parents Killed While Shielding Their Children

In a tragic turn of events, Sitthipong Siriphan, 48, and his wife Orachon Ieankham, 45, were celebrating their son’s 12th birthday when the gunfire erupted.

Both parents were fatally shot in the head while attempting to protect their children.

Their 6-year-old daughter was injured, sustaining a wound to her head, while their 12-year-old son escaped physically unharmed.

Other Victims and Police Action

The restaurant owner, Paowana Uttha, 46, was shot in the head but survived. Another customer, Suriya Supradit, 42, suffered a gunshot wound to his right arm.

In addition, police recovered eight spent 9mm cartridges from the scene. According to Bangkok Post, the suspect surrendered to authorities shortly after the attack.