A fatal shooting incident involving a Thai soldier resulted in 21 casualties, which included his commanding officer and two fellow soldiers. The soldier, Sergeant Major Jakrapanth Thomma, also left 31 people injured, with 10 in critical condition, before being fatally shot himself due to his actions. The conflict arose from a financial dispute, sparking the soldier’s violent rampage at his barracks.
Prior to the shooting, Thomma expressed fatalistic sentiments on his Facebook page, writing: “Death is inevitable for everyone.”
The soldier proceeded to carry out the attack, including the execution of his commanding officer and two fellow soldiers, theft of an army vehicle, and dissemination of images and videos showcasing his actions in full military gear, before driving to a shopping mall in Korat. From there, he opened fire on civilians at a house and a Buddhist temple before entering the mall.
Media reports indicated that the suspect’s mother was brought to the mall in an attempt to persuade him to surrender. After hiding in the mall’s basement for over 14 hours, Sergeant Thomma, 32, was ultimately shot dead by Thai security forces.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul posted on his Facebook page, commending the security forces for their response and confirming Thomma’s death, stating: “Thank you police and army for ending the situation. Shooter shot dead!!!”