Thai mall shooter killed by police

BANGKOK – A shooting spree by a Thai soldier ended early Sunday when police shot and killed the man in a shopping mall where he had holed up overnight after killing 26 people and injuring 57.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha confirmed the casualties and the shooter’s death in a press briefing and added that the government would take over costs for victims’ health care and funerals.

“Situations like this have never happened in Thailand,” Prayut said. “Let’s hope that this is the first and last time.”

The shooter was identified as

Sergeant Jakrapanth Thomma.

The shooting spree started on Saturday afternoon when he reportedly shot dead his commanding officer and the officer’s mother-inlaw. He then stole heavy weapons and a military vehicle from a military base.

He is believed to have later shot and killed several people, including worshippers in a Buddhist temple, while on the run in Nakhon Ratchasima province, around 260 kilometers (about 161.5 miles) northeast of Bangkok.

The attack then continued at the Terminal 21 shopping mall, where Jakrapanth reportedly began firing at shoppers in the parking lot and carried on shooting as he made his way into the building, where he stayed throughout the night. He was shot by police around 9 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Sunday, at least 16 hours after the initial shooting, Thai media reported. Police confirmed his death shortly afterwards.

Jakrapanth had posted updates of his attacks on his Facebook page before it became inaccessible.

In one piece of video footage posted on his Facebook page and later published by media outlets, Jakrapanth said: “I’m tired. I’m too tired to move my finger anymore” as he gestured to his index finger while holding a gun.