Thai Soldier Kills 20 in Shooting Rampage in Country’s Northeast

A Thai soldier killed at least 20 people and wounded 31 in a shooting rampage Saturday in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima.

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The suspect, identified by police as 32-year-old Sergeant Major Jakrapanth Thomma remains at large and possibly has hostages. Thai police entered the mall he was hiding in late Saturday and in the early hours of Sunday to begin combing the building. 

Thai security forces stormed the Terminal 21 mall and helped hundreds of people to escape. Looking dazed and exhausted, shoppers and store workers came out in small groups into the early hours of Sunday as police and soldiers worked through the mall floor by floor.

“It was frightening because I could hear the occasional gunshot ... we waited a long time for the police to come and help us, many hours,” said Suvanarat Jirattanasakul, 27, who was held inside the shopping center.

Although the reasons are yet unknown, the soldier opened fire in several places, first at a house and then at an army base, before heading to the shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, which is about 250 km (155 miles) from the capital Bangkok, police said.

“We don’t know why he did this. It appears he went mad,” Defence Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit told Reuters.

The suspected perpetrator wrote on his Facebook during the attack “Death is inevitable for everyone” and later asked, “Should I give up?” Facebook said it had removed the suspect’s account.