Kitiphong Naomuang pleads guilty to shooting into Palmerston home during feud with ex-friend

A man who self-medicated his mental health issues with a cocktail of drugs has pleaded guilty to firing into a woman’s home as she watched television.

Kitiphong Naomuang appeared before Justice Sonia Brownhill last week after pleading guilty to discharging a firearm, reckless endangerment, possessing a firearm while unlicensed, and illegally possessing a throwing knife and a small amount of cannabis.

A Palmerston woman remains “overwhelmed by fear”, flinching at every firework or loud noise, after a man on a cocktail of drugs fired a sawn-off semiautomatic into her home.

Kitiphong Naomuang appeared before Justice Sonia Brownhill last week after pleading guilty to discharging a firearm, reckless endangerment, possessing a firearm while unlicensed, and illegally possessing a throwing knife and a small amount of cannabis.

The Supreme Court heard that the 36-year-old father-of-three fired into the woman’s Moulden home due to a falling out with her son, his former best friend.

On September 18, 2024 Naomuang got into an argument with his ex-friend’s stepfather in a pawn shop, with the other man challenging him to a fight in the parking lot.

Eight hours later Naomuang sent a message to his former friend: “See you soon, motherfucker”.

The 36-year-old went to his ex-friend’s mother’s Moulden home, firing through her living room window — with the single bullet hitting just a few feet from where she was sitting watching television.

“The experience was terrifying for the occupants who hid inside the house in fear for their lives while you left the scene,” Justice Brownhill said.

Naomuang dumped the loaded sawn-off semiautomatic .22 calibre rifle on the ground, and when cops arrived he called out: “Would you just shoot me”.

The Supreme Court heard that the 36-year-old father-of-three fired into the woman’s Moulden home due to a falling out with her son and his former best friend. Picture: Google Maps

Police allowed the 36-year-old to leave as they were concerned for his mental health and did not know he was linked to the shooting.

The next day Naomuang was arrested at his home, with a search uncovering empty .22 calibre ammunition packaging, a throwing star knife and 9 grams of cannabis.

The Palmerston mother said since the shooting she was “overwhelmed with fear”, saying her “tummy turns or her legs feel weak” every time she hears fireworks or loud noises.

Her son said he remained worried about Naomuang harming him or his family.

“He does not want to live his life looking over his shoulder,” Justice Brownhill said.

“He said you and he used to be best friends, and he does not know what happened.”

Justice Brownhill said the Territory man had been self-medicating his mental health issues with a mix of illegal drugs for years.

Naomuang said he had been using cannabis since he was a teenager, and methamphetamines for a decade before his arrest.

At the time of the incident the 36-year-old was using cannabis, MDMA, ecstasy and alcohol every day to manage his anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Justice Brownhill said while in prison Naomuang completed an drug counselling course, and was properly medicated for his PTSD and schizophrenia.

She said the father-of-three said he did not want to return to a life of addiction, and wanted proper treatment for his mental health issues to “be a good partner and parent”.

Justice Brownhill said the nine-months he spent in prison on remand “more onerous” than usual, due to the “crowded and understaffed conditions”.

She sentenced him to three years imprisonment and a $650 fine, suspended to allow him to serve an intensive community correction order at a rehabilitative program at Banyan House.

Originally published as Kitiphong Naomuang pleads guilty to shooting into Palmerston home during feud with ex-friend