An army corporal shot his commander and an elderly woman dead at a house in Muang district of Thailand’s north-eastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, before escaping in a stolen Humvee and opening fire indiscriminately at people, killing at least 10 and injuring several others, as he drove toward a local shopping mall.
The mass shooting took place at about 5.30pm today (Saturday) and the gunman has been identified as Corporal Jakrapanth Thomma, attached to the Surathampitak Barracks in the province.
Initial reports said that the gunman, his commander, 48-year old Colonel Ananrote Krasae, 63-year old Mrs. Anong Mitchan and an army private had a meeting at a house in Tambon Nongjabcok to settle a debt problem, a dispute which resulted in the shooting.
Col. Ananrote and Mrs. Anong were found dead at the scene, while the army private, who has not been identified, was injured.
Then the gunman, armed with an HK assault rifle, stole the Humvee and drove toward the Terminal 21 shopping mall the district’s township, firing at random people on his way.
Police and army troops have been mobilized to hunt for the gunman.
Pol. Col. Krisana Pattanachaorn, deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, urged people to stay clear of the shopping mall.
