Two teens charged after fatal shooting at Rayong festival

RAYONG — On 18 September 2026, two 18-year-old suspects surrendered to police after a fatal shooting during the Colors of the East festival at Mae Ramphueng Beach in Rayong’s Mueang district, according to police reports. The incident occurred shortly after midnight following a concert by Thai folk-rock band Maleehuana. Initially, the two suspects were involved in an altercation with a rival group on the road, exchanging insults and challenges.

One suspect was riding a motorcycle while the other was behind him. Allegedly, the shooter fired several shots from a magazine-fed gun at the rival group, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old bystander and injuries to three others. After the shooting, the suspects abandoned their motorcycle in a village in Tapong subdistrict and fled the scene.

Later that day, on 20 September at around 16:00, the suspects contacted police to surrender at an abandoned house in Pluak Daeng district. During their surrender, one suspect claimed he had fired the gun in self-defense, stating that the opposing group had shot at him first. Police seized a modified blank-firing gun that had been adapted to fire 9mm ammunition, which was hidden in grass.

Both suspects have been charged with intentional murder using a firearm, attempted murder, and firearms offenses. One suspect had a prior firearms charge and had escaped from Rayong’s juvenile observation and protection centre.