Sabayoi: Results of an investigation into the gun used to shoot a novice monk in Sabayoi have revealed that the bullet casings were from M-16 rifles stolen during a 1966 police shooting incident.

According to Thai News Agency, the examination of the bullet casings used by the perpetrators, who shot at a car carrying monks and novices in Saba Yoi District, confirmed they were from M-16 rifles. These rifles were stolen from a shooting incident in which a police officer from Na Pradu Police Station was killed in 1966.

The recent incident involved a perpetrator shooting at a police car in Saba Yoi as it was picking up six monks and novices for alms collection. The attack resulted in the death of a novice, who was the son of the policeman driving the car. The examination of evidence from the scene revealed 30 bullet casings that matched the stolen M-16 firearms. These firearms were taken from the Tha Pradu Police Station in Pattani Province during an incident on June 10, 2013, where the perpetrators also stole a 9 mm personal firearm.

Investigations at the scene indicated that the attack was an ambush. The assailant approached on a motorcycle, parked it in a rubber plantation approximately 50 meters from the shooting point, and used an M-16 rifle to open fire. After being shot at in return, the assailant fled on the motorcycle.

A water pouring ceremony for the novice monk who was killed will take place tomorrow at Wat Thamnien Thammaram, Tambon Saba Yoi, Songkhla Province, with a cremation ceremony scheduled for this Sunday.