TWO young men have admitted killing a Phuket security guard by mistake as they fired in an encounter with a rival gang last month.

A reenactment today indicated, as Phuketwan reported at the time, that guard Winai Buratongkm, 54, was slumbering in his chair inside the box at the entrance to the Phuket City Municipal Estate in Saphan Hin, Phuket City, when a bullet killed him.

Namchok Seatan, 19, was arrested today at 1am at his family home in Krabi and Pitakpong Chetapai, also 19, was held yesterday in Nakornsritammarat.

Khun Namchok told police they were out buying food about 10.30pm on December 8 when they spied three young men standing outside the security box.

The men swore at them as the pair passed so they turned back with Namchok holding a thai pradit homemade gun, capable of firing nine bullets at once.

He fired at the three men from close range, but only one bullet struck home, killing the unfortunate security guard where he sat inside the box. His body was not discovered until the following morning.

The two accused are being held in custody.