Between 8 and 9 February 2020, a mass shooting occurred in and near the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, also known as Korat. The attack was carried out by a Sergeant Major 1st Class of the Royal Thai Army, who killed 29 people and wounded 58 others before being shot and killed by police. It was, at the time, the deadliest mass shooting in Thailand's history.
The attack began at about 15:30 local time on 8 February 2020 at a house, where the gunman had gone to discuss a property dispute with his commanding officer, Colonel Anantharot Krasae. According to acquaintances, the gunman believed he had been cheated out of money in a property deal by Krasae and Krasae's mother-in-law. He confronted Krasae, took his weapon, and shot him dead, then also shot and killed the mother-in-law.
The gunman then went to the Suratham Phithak Military Camp, where he was stationed, and raided the base's guard post and armories, stealing two Type 11 assault rifles, an M60 machine gun, and 776 rounds of ammunition, killing a soldier during the raid. He stole a Humvee, wounding its driver, and left the base, firing on and wounding two police officers and two civilians on the way.
The gunman then opened fire outside Wat Pa Sattha Ruam, a Buddhist temple, killing eight civilians and a police officer. He proceeded to the Terminal 21 Korat shopping mall, which was crowded due to the Magha Puja public holiday. Outside the mall he killed 12 civilians and detonated a gas cylinder before entering, where he killed two more people and took sixteen hostages on the fourth floor. Throughout the attack he posted updates and live-streamed via Facebook, which later removed his account and condemned the attack.
Police and soldiers stormed the mall and called for his surrender; he responded by opening fire, killing two police officers and a soldier and wounding at least three others. He remained inside for several hours, during which his mother was brought to the scene by authorities in an attempt to persuade him to surrender. On 9 February at 09:13 local time, police announced they had shot and killed the gunman.
The perpetrator was identified as Sergeant Major 1st Class Jakrapanth Thomma, aged 31, from Kaeng Khro in Chaiyaphum Province. He had trained as a non-commissioned officer, was described as an expert marksman, and ran a YouTube channel focused on firearms.
The event prompted public and governmental criticism of Thai broadcasters for live-covering the unfolding siege, with regulators ordering stations to halt live broadcasts that could have revealed the movements of responding officers. It also drew criticism of the military-linked government over the ease with which a soldier was able to steal weapons and carry out the attack, despite recent laws intended to prevent such theft.
Credit: John CornynPublic domainSourceSOLVEDListen
