In a curious twist to the typical New Year’s Eve revelries, seven teenagers from Samut Songkhram found themselves in hot water after deciding that nothing welcomes a new calendar year quite like the staccato beat of an Uzi submachine gun. But this high-octane celebration didn’t end with cheers of delight but rather with a public apology at Samut Songkhram Provincial Police Headquarters, vowing to keep future festivities firework and not firearm-oriented.
The saga unfolded when a viral Facebook post snatched attention nationwide. Captured in startling clarity was the sound and fury of these jolly shooters, complete with the headline-grabbing presence of a notorious Uzi. Adding to the spectacle, the post bore the jubilant caption, “Happy Thai New Year,” tagged with a location pointer to the serene precinct of Phuang Malai Temple. This led the online sleuths to deduce—correctly—that the temple’s proximity indicated local involvement. Fearful citizens watched as their tranquil digital scroll was rudely interrupted by this explosive display, prompting a wave of concern until the post was prudently pulled offline.
As January 6 rolled around, the mystery gave way to clarity. Policemen gathered in Samut Songkhram, where Police Major General Sompop Kuhawichanant and Police Colonel Sayam Insuwanono presented the resolution of the thundering escapade. Faces behind the online curtain emerged—47-year-old Paitoon, 26-year-olds Thanyatep and Wayu, 28-year-old Thanyathorn, 37-year-old Naret, another 26-year-old, Jakkrit, and the fledgling 21-year-old, Surachai. Each linked to the incident, each unnamed in the initial shockwaves of internet fame. The discoveries during investigations painted a milder picture: they wielded only blank-firing guns, which may sound (almost) real but landed more on the spectrum of stupid than sinister.
Probing into the aftermath, it appeared the late-night misadventure unfolded rather innocently along the roadside near Wat Phuang Malai. The year’s farewell was kicked off with the kind of spirited delivery—though not the wisest—that youthful exuberance occasionally spuriously approves. The method of indulgence? Alcohol, claiming its role as the party’s mischievous facilitator, and a dash of online shopping gone astray brought blank guns to the hands that became, briefly, all-too-internet-famous.
Swift policing coupled with familial persuasion saw our fiery pack surrender to the warrant’s call. Identity and intent established, the hammering down of law was rather light—a 500 baht fine slapped per head, equating the magnitude of their public nuisance to a paltry sum of US$14. Facing the metaphorical slap on the wrist, reflections came easy. The teens conveyed heartfelt contrition, attributing their misjudged mirth to inebriation-fueled folly, decidedly repentant in the face of feigned street-battle bravado that boomeranged awry.
The incident now serves as a cautionary tale—a reminder that not every click sends a harmless ripple through the waters of social media. Before any more delicately-stroked Instagram feeds find themselves weaponized, this Samut Songkhram crew extends their public spotlight lesson: New Year blessings should neither whiz nor bang, and community fear is best left unprovoked.
Meanwhile, as the clamorous footsteps of other Thailand news sprint across the ticker-tape of time, lessons in humility and careful engagement with the digital ether leave these youngsters soberer and incomparably wiser, all under the wide, approving smile of yet another promising year—a brand new beginning without the reverberating echoes of high-caliber pritzy nuisance. Cheers indeed!
I can’t believe these teenagers thought firing blank guns was a good idea for celebrating New Year!
I know, right? Alcohol and weapons are just a dangerous mix. They got off easy with just a small fine.
True, but they were blank guns, so maybe the authorities were right for being lenient.
At least they apologized and promised not to do it again. Everyone makes mistakes.
Their apology seems more like damage control than genuine remorse. Actions speak louder than words.
But they did own up to it publicly. I think that’s commendable in today’s digital age.
I bet they wouldn’t have owned up if the video didn’t go viral.
These kinds of antics are symptomatic of larger issues with how youth perceive fun. Where are the parents?
Exactly! Parenting plays a huge role, but society also needs to offer better alternatives for entertainment.
Honestly, I think people are overreacting. They were just trying to have fun. No harm, no foul.
I’m not sure I’d call the disruption they caused harmless. It freaked people out.
Sure, but it was all blanks. People need to chill sometimes.
Instead of fines, these teens should be involved in community service related to social media responsibility.
Absolutely agree! It would be more constructive than a measly fine.
Social media really amplifies these incidents. It’s like everything is a potential scandal.
True, but it also holds people accountable for their actions in a way that wasn’t possible before.
Accountability is good, but sometimes it feels like a witch hunt.
This shows how easily something can spin out of control online. Online reputation is no joke in 2025.
I’m more worried about how easy it was for them to get those guns, even if they’re blanks.
Honestly, the parents should face some consequences too. Where were they when all this went down?
I agree that better parenting might help, but let’s not forget peer pressure.
Peer pressure is part of growing up, but within limits. Luckily, no one was hurt here.
It’s a bit funny, isn’t it? The teenagers had no clue they’d go viral which shows their naïveté.
In the end, I hope they’ve learned something from all this. Better to laugh about it now than regret later.
Next time people will think twice before turning their immature pranks into social media spectacles. Let’s hope!
I originally thought the incident was disgraceful, but considering their apology, maybe they deserve a second chance.
We all deserve a second chance, but only if we actually learn and improve from our mistakes.