Police killed a suspected Brinks cash truck robber in Bangkok's Nong Khaem district early Monday after he fired at police in attempt to escape arrest for the theft of 7.2 million baht late last month.
Just before the shootout, detectives learned that the suspect, Takdanai Niawrangjai, 27, was trying to hide and escape the police cordon in areas near Phutthamonthon Sai 3 and Phutthamonthon Sai 4 roads in eastern Bangkok.
Police pinpointed his location after learning that Takdanai was scheduled to meet friends at a snooker club on Soi Thawi Watthana 1 on Sunday night.
Police saw him riding a motorcycle on the road and he sped towards Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road.
Spotting the police pursuit, the suspect abandoned his motorcycle and ran into a deserted roadside area.
Police said he fired four rounds from a handgun to try to force police to stop. But reporters on the scene said officers fired back, hitting Takdanai twice in the chest. He died instantly at the scene
Police recovered 300,000 baht in cash in a bag under the seat of his motorcycle.
Takdanai and Jirayut Suanmi, 20, who was arrested earlier were suspected of robbing a Brinks cash truck in front of Big C Extra store on Phetkasem Road in Nong Khaem district on Feb 23 and making off with 7.2 million baht in cash.
Mr Jirayut told police they had robbed another Brinks cash truck in Nonthaburi province in 2017. Mr Jirayut had been a driver of the cash truck company but was sacked for absence from work.
