69-year-old shoots dead his schoolyard bully at high school reunion in Thailand: Reports

BANGKOK — A high school reunion in Thailand ended in tragedy when a 69-year-old pensioner shot dead a man who bullied him when they were both teenagers.

According to Thailand’s Channel Seven television news, the gunman, Thanapat Anakesri, 69, was invited to the event on Saturday afternoon (Aug 24) to meet former classmates from the school in Pho Tong district in the north of Ang Thong province in central Thailand.

The report said about 30 former classmates gathered to reminisce about school life 50 years ago over a buffet of Thai food.

At the end of the party, Thanapat, a former naval officer, confronted his former bully Suthat Kosayamat, 69, outside the restaurant. He mentioned how he had been bullied when they were both 16, according to another report, from PattayaOne News.

As an argument ensued, Suthat, a tailor, said he could not remember what had happened between them.

Thanapat reportedly ordered Suthat to apologise but he refused and told him to forget about it. This sparked a fight between the pair.

Thanapat then allegedly drew a handgun and shot his former classmate before fleeing, said the report.

Suthat was rushed to the hospital and later pronounced dead.

The class of 1966 president Tuean Klakang, who organised the event, told police that Thanapat would often complain about Suthat.

“Thanapat would get drunk then often talk about how angry he was about being bullied by Suthat. He never forgot about it.

“But as these things happened such a long time ago, I would never have imagined that he would have killed his friend like this. We are all shocked by it,” Mr Tuean said.

Suthat was given a traditional Buddhist funeral on Tuesday, with relatives paying tribute to the “kind and caring” man.

Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Thanapat on a murder charge.

He has fled his home and is believed to be in neighbouring Sing Buri province.