Teen thugs kill noodle vendor

The woman owner of a noodle shop was shot dead on Sunday night by a member of a gang of teenagers who had earlier attacked the shop several times with ping pong bombs, Nakhon Pathom police said

The gang reportedly had a dispute with the woman's two sons, who were helping her in the shop.

Pol Lt Col Nawin Songla-or, the duty officer at Nakhon Chaisi police station said Kornnat Purensopha, alias Che Nat, was shot in the head at her noodle shop in tambon Bang Krabao,

Police sent to the scene were told Mrs Kornnat was seriously wounded and had been rushed to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Her 18-year-old son told the police that a gang of about 20 teenagers led by Pornsak, or Beam, drove past the noodle shop on 10 motorcycles early Sunday night while he and his younger brother were helping their mother. He said the gang members had a personal conflict with him and his brother.

Gang members hurled three ping pong bombs at the shop and the explosions panicked the customers. About 30 minutes later the returned and threw three more ping pong bombs at the roadside shop. About 9pm athey came back again and threw one more ping pong bomb at the shop

They returned again about 9.30pm and stopped in front of the shop. One of the gang members pulled out a pistol and pointed it at him, threatening him, the 18-year-old said.

At this point, Mrs Kornnat, went out and asked them to leave and spare her sons' lives. The teenager fired one shot at the two brothers, but missed them. He then turned the gun on Mrs Kornnat and fired two shots, hitting her once in the head.

The teenage thugs fled the scene on their bikes after the shooting