Boy killed in Pattani shooting

A 12-year-old boy became the latest victim of the violence in the deep south while travelling on a motorcycle with his stepfather and mother in Pattani's Nong Chik district on Monday night.

Nawaphol Li succumbed to head injuries at Nong Chik Hospital while his stepfather, Narong Kongtong, 45, was seriously injured from gunshot wounds to his shoulder and torso. The boy's mother, Noknoi Li, survived unscathed.

The three were heading to their rented home on a motorcycle after shopping at a department store when two armed men started trailing them. Police said Narong, who was riding pillion with Nawaphol in the middle, became suspicious of the men and told Noknoi to pull away. However, the man riding pillion on the pursuing motorcycle opened fire then fled the scene.

Seeing her husband and son injured in the attack, Noknoi took them immediately to Nong Chik Hospital. The boy died shortly afterwards.