Early on the morning of September 13, a routine ride home turned into a nightmare near Indy Market in Dao Khanong. What began as a chase between groups of youths erupted into gunfire, leaving a 15‑year‑old boy — known only by the pseudonym “Ae” — fighting for his life in a Bangkok hospital. Social media footage of the pursuit and the moment he was struck spread quickly online, deepening the anguish for his family and igniting fresh public anger over teenage gang violence in the capital.
Ae’s mother, 35‑year‑old Amara, described the frantic hours that followed. She said she had spoken to her son just after midnight; he sounded fine and reassured her he was safe. Later, when calls went unanswered, her fear grew. “Around 1 a.m., a friend called to tell me he had been shot,” Amara recalled, still visibly shaken. When she arrived at the hospital, doctors told her the worst: Ae had sustained life‑threatening wounds to his intestines, a major vein and his right ureter. Medical staff have described his condition as “50/50.”
According to Amara and witnesses, Ae was riding with friends and some older students when another group ambushed them. The attackers were reportedly travelling on seven to eight motorcycles and at least one car. During the pursuit, shots were fired; Ae was hit near the busy market area. Amara insists her son was not involved in any dispute. “My son has never had problems with anyone before. He was not part of the conflict. I want justice for my family,” she said.
“He was not part of the conflict. I want justice for my family.” — Amara, mother of the wounded teenager
Bang Kho Laem police have launched a full investigation. Officers confirmed that two suspects believed to be linked to the shooting are in custody and said they are tracking others reportedly involved. While some witnesses and online clips suggest the episode may have originated from an argument between one of Ae’s older companions and members of the attacking group, police have not yet verified that motive, according to local reports in KhaoSod.
The circulation of video on platforms like TikTok and Facebook has amplified the incident’s impact. Footage showing motorcycles weaving through streets and, in some clips, the flash of gunfire has been shared, replayed and debated — bringing renewed attention to a longstanding worry: the rise of violent youth crime in Bangkok. Netizens reacted with a mix of anger, fear and calls for a tougher response from authorities.
“Seeing children on both sides — either as victims or perpetrators — makes this more than a criminal case. It’s a community crisis,” said a local resident who asked not to be named. Comments across social media demanded stricter policing of teenage gangs, swifter legal action, and more preventive work with at‑risk youths.
Police spokespeople have pledged to identify all members of the groups involved and to pursue prosecutions. Investigators are trawling through witness statements, CCTV and the abundance of user‑generated videos that have become, for better or worse, an unofficial record of the chase. For now, the case remains open and active.
At the hospital, Amara has taken on the vigil no parent should ever face. Friends and relatives have taken shifts by her side as she prays for her son’s recovery and presses officials for answers. “I just want the truth and I want those responsible to be punished,” she told reporters between visits to Ae’s bedside.
This shooting has also reignited debate about public safety in Bangkok’s streets. City officials and community leaders often stress that tackling youth violence requires a two‑pronged approach: rigorous law enforcement to deter violent acts, and social programs to steer teenagers away from gang culture. Advocates say more outreach, education and youth centers, combined with targeted policing of hotspots, could help reduce the kind of cycle that led to this tragedy.
For now, the immediate questions are both medical and legal. Can Ae pull through the critical injuries he suffered? Will the arrests already made lead to convictions? And can Bangkok find a way to prevent another family from enduring the same pain?
The answer — as residents, politicians and police alike have noted — will take time and hard work. But amid the outrage and sorrow, one urgent plea stands out: a mother’s demand for justice and a community’s hope that steps will be taken to keep its children safe on the city’s streets.
Authorities continue to investigate. Anyone with information about the incident near Indy Market, Dao Khanong, is asked to contact Bang Kho Laem Police Station to help bring clarity and accountability to a case that has shaken many across Bangkok.
This is horrifying — a 15-year-old nearly killed and everyone watching on TikTok. We keep talking about tougher policing, but why are kids forming armed groups in the first place?
Blaming society is easy, but there are kids choosing violence. Lock them up and make an example, otherwise victims like Ae will keep suffering.
Punishment alone won’t fix trauma or poverty that pushes kids into gangs.
Both prevention and accountability are needed. Evidence from urban programs shows that combined social services and targeted policing reduce youth violence over time, but it requires funding and political will.
This is scary. Why do they have guns? We need more police on streets.
More police isn’t always the answer — aggressive policing can escalate things and damage communities. Invest in youth centers and mentorship instead.
I want kids to be safe now, not in three years with programs.
As a teacher, I see how small conflicts blow up online. Young people mimic viral bravado and then real violence follows.
True, kids copy what they see. Social media is making fights worse.
Exactly, so digital literacy and conflict resolution should be in curricula, not just slogans during press conferences.
Academic studies support that approach: combining school-based mediation, family support, and community policing yields measurable declines in group-based youth incidents. Policy must be evidence-driven rather than reactive.
But where will the money come from? Politicians only fund quick wins.
I think vigilante justice will rise if authorities don’t act quickly. Online mobs already identify suspects, and that can go horribly wrong.
Online mob justice is dangerous and unfair, but slow prosecutions also fuel anger. Transparency from police is necessary to calm the public.
Transparency, arrests, and visible patrols. That might at least stop copycat groups.
Visible policing without community trust is hollow. Police reform must include accountability, youth engagement, and clear crime prevention metrics.
I feel for the boy and his mother. But why were older students riding with him? Peer pressure is lethal.
Peer pressure and status — ‘look tough’ culture among teens fuels these chases. Parents must talk to their kids more.
Parents can try, but many of these kids are out late and influenced by friends and online gangs.
Socioeconomic factors matter too. When communities lack jobs and recreation, gangs fill the void with identity and money.
So fix poverty then? Easier said than done.
Why are videos of the shooting being shared so freely? That traumatizes the victim’s family and can contaminate evidence.
Yes — people forget victims are real. Sharing clips for clicks is cruel and can impede justice if footage is tampered with.
Law needs to catch up: penalties for sharing graphic crime videos should be considered.
We must avoid turning this into a political blame game. Both police and social services failed somewhere, so both need scrutiny.
Too many officials spout sympathy and do nothing meaningful. Show me convictions, not press releases.
Agreed, evidence and follow-through matter more than words during a vigil.
A transparent timeline of investigation steps and community advisory boards could help restore faith. Otherwise public outrage will persist and fuel polarization.
This reads like a horror story for any parent. If I were Amara I would want the harshest punishment possible.
Retribution feels right emotionally, but long-term reduction in violence comes from prevention and rehabilitation too.
I hear that, but when your child is bleeding you don’t care about long-term programs.
Community centers and safe nighttime activities for teens should be priorities. Those simple steps have helped elsewhere.
Yes, and the design of interventions matters: culturally relevant mentors, localized hotspots mapping, and evaluation frameworks are crucial for impact.
Two suspects detained is a start but systemic issues persist. Are these arrests going to address the supply of weapons and online coordination?
Tracing weapon sources and intercepting online organizing require tech capacity and inter-agency cooperation, which is often lacking.
Exactly — without those, arrests are just temporary fixes.
I grew up near Dao Khanong and have seen gangs get bolder. This is only getting worse.
Maybe curfew laws for teens? Not ideal, but could reduce late-night risks.
Curfews can help a bit but they also criminalize normal teens. Better to create safe alternatives.
Safe alternatives are great but take years. In the meantime, we need stronger deterrents.
Online outrage sometimes pushes police to act faster, but it also spreads misinformation. People should be careful about jumping to conclusions.
True, but silence from authorities also fuels conspiracy. Balance is hard to achieve.