Elderly man shoots dead high school bully at reunion party after holding a grudge for 53 years
A man allegedly shot dead his high school bully at a school reunion party this weekend after holding a 53-year grudge.
69-year-old Thanapat Anakesri attended the Saturday event with his former classmates from a school in Ang Thong, Thailand, according to Unilad. Suthat Kosayamat, 69, was one of those classmates, who Anakesri allegedly confronted over claims that he had bullied him in school when they were both 16 years of age.
The group of former students had reminisced their school life more than 50 years ago prior to the tragedy, and even enjoyed a hearty buffet of Thai food followed by a round of ice cream. But the light-hearted mood was soon interrupted when Anakesri, a former navy officer, began arguing with Kosayamat, a tailor, who responded saying he couldn't remember what he was talking about.
Anakesri subsequently demanded Kosayamat to apologize. When he refused and told him to move on, Anakesri pulled out a handgun and fatally shot his former classmate before bolting from the scene.
The victim was rushed to hospital but died despite the doctors' best efforts. He was sent off with a traditional Buddhist funeral on Tuesday, attended by heartbroken friends and family members, who paid their tributes to the "kind and caring" man.
The back-to-school event was organized by Tuean Klakang, 69, the president of the class of 1966. He told authorities that while Anakesri would often complain about Kosayamat, he did not believe it was something to be taken seriously.
"Thanapat [Anakesri] would get drunk then often talk about how angry he was about being bullied by Suthat [Kosayamat]. He never forgot about it," he explained. "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."
As authorities search for Anakesri, who has fled his home and is believed to be living in a neighboring province, Police Captain Sombat Somboondee revealed responding officers found a 9mm cartridge and another dummy round at the scene of the crime.
"We also have a lead that he is hiding in Singburi province so officers are searching the area," the police chief later added. "From speaking to witnesses, the shooting appears to have happened after a personal dispute between the killer and the victim from a long time ago."
That said, the Ang Thong Provincial Court has issued an arrest warrant for Thanapat on murder charges.