Nakhon Ratchasima shootings
Nakhon Ratchasima shootings | |
---|---|
Weapons |
|
Deaths | 30 (including the perpetrator)[1][2][3] |
Injured | 58[4] |
Perpetrator | Jakrapanth Thomma |
Motive | Business conflict between perpetrator and his commander[5] |
Between 8 and 9 February 2020, a mass shooting occurred near and in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, colloquially known as Korat. A soldier of the Royal Thai Army killed 29 people and wounded 58 others before he was eventually shot and killed.[6]
The attack began when the perpetrator shot and killed his commanding officer and two others at Suratham Phithak Military Camp (ค่ายสุรธรรมพิทักษ์), the base where he was stationed. The perpetrator then stole military weapons and a
Shootings
House and Suratham Phithak Military Camp
The shooting began at about 15:30 local time on 8 February 2020 at a house, where the gunman arrived to discuss a property dispute with his commander, Colonel Anantharot Krasae. The gunman confronted him, stole his weapon and shot him dead. He then shot and killed the commander's mother-in-law.[11]
Afterwards, the gunman went to the Suratham Phithak army base where he worked and raided the camp, stealing from a guard post and the camp armories two
Buddhist temple and Terminal 21 Korat shopping mall
After escaping, the gunman started shooting in the street: he stopped outside Wat Pa Sattha Ruam, a
Police officers and soldiers stormed the mall and demanded the gunman's surrender, to which he responded by opening fire, killing two policemen and a soldier and wounding at least three others. He remained inside for several hours, during which his mother was brought by authorities to try to convince him to surrender.[14]
On 9 February, at 09:13 local time, police announced that they had shot and killed the gunman.[15]
Perpetrator
Sergeant Major 1st Class Jakrapanth Thomma (จักรพันธ์ ถมมา,
Thomma's acquaintances said he was upset over being allegedly cheated out of a property deal and not being given back his money by his commanding officer, Colonel Anantharot Krasae, and Krasae's mother-in-law, who were both shot dead. During the livestream of the shooting, Thomma shouted, "Rich from cheating and taking advantage of people ... Do they think they can take money to spend in hell?"[11]
Aftermath
Social media use
The perpetrator posted on social media during his attack, asking on Facebook if he should surrender. He had previously posted a picture of a pistol and bullets, captioned "It is time to get excited," and "Nobody can avoid death." Facebook responded by removing the page and issuing a statement condemning the attack.[17]
Criticism of media coverage
The events of the shooting were initially covered as live broadcasts near the scene by Thai broadcasters, which received public and governmental criticism for possibly providing the gunman with information about the movements of authorities intervening at the scene. Thailand's broadcast regulator, the
Criticism of military and government
In the aftermath, the military co-run government was a target of anger, with the hashtags "Reform the Military" and "Prayuth RIP" trending on Twitter. In particular, it was criticized for being unable to prevent one of its own soldiers from easily stealing weapons and committing the shootings, contrasting with its strong control of politics and the economy. In January 2020, General Apirat Kongsompong lauded new laws intended to make it more difficult for ill-intentioned people to steal weapons from the military.[21]
See also
- Crime in Thailand
- List of massacres in Thailand
- Live streaming crime
- 2022 Nong Bua Lamphu massacre
References
- ^ "ผู้ว่าฯ สกลนคร เป็นประธานในพิธีพระราชทานเพลิงศพนายอุทัย ขันอาสา ซึ่งเสียชีวิตจากเหตุกราดยิงที่โคราช" [The governor of Sakon Nakhon presided over the cremation ceremony of Uthai Khanasa, who died in the Korat shooting.] (in Thai). Thai News. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "อาลัย 'อุทัย ขันอาสา' รปภ.เหยื่อกราดยิงโคราชเสียชีวิตแล้ว หลังยื้อชีวิตนาน 6 เดือน" [Lamented 'Uthai Khanasa' Security Guard, the victim of Korat shooting was dead. After 6 months] (in Thai). Channel 3 Thailand News. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- Khaosod. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "สูญเสีย! ผู้เสียชีวิตจากเหตุกราดยิงโคราชเพิ่มเป็น 30 คน" [Loss! Death toll of Korat shooting rampage rises to 30]. Thai PBS (in Thai). 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "Korat carnage death toll 27; perpetrator had conflict with his commander : PM". The Nation Thailand. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d "One gunman, four locations, 29 dead: how the mass shooting in Thailand unfolded". Reuters. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "Thai commandos kill rogue soldier who shot dead 26 people". Al Jazeera. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Thailand shooting: Soldier who killed 26 in Korat shot dead". BBC News. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "Thailand Mass Shooting". Solace Global. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ Lalit, Sakchai; Vejpongsa, Tassanee (8 February 2020). "Thai army sergeant who killed at least 26 shot dead in mall, officials say". USA Today. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ a b Paddock, Richard C.; Suhartono, Muktita; Jirenuwat, Ryn (10 February 2020). "Thai Soldier in Mass Shooting Had Business Clash With His Commander". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "ทบ. แจง คนร้ายกราดยิงโคราช ขโมยอาวุธปืน HK11 - M60 และกระสุน 776 นัด". Krungthep Turakij (in Thai). 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "Mass shooter killed at Korat mall, 27 dead". Bangkok Post. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Sumon, Nat; van Hagen, Isobel (8 February 2020). "Thai soldier dead after killing at least 29 in shooting rampage". NBC News. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "ด่วน! วิสามัญฆาตกรรมมือกราดยิงโคราช เสียชีวิต 20 คน" [Breaking! Korat gunman shot dead, 20 killed]. Thai PBS (in Thai). 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "เปิดประวัติเหี้ยม!! "จ.ส.อ.จักรพันธ์" ปูมหลังคลั่งกราดยิง พื้นเพคนชัยภูมิ เรียนนายสิบ แม่นปืน!!" [Background of ruthless mass shooter "Sgt. Maj. Jakrapanth" revealed!! Chaiyaphum native, received army training, sharpshooter!!]. Khaosod (in Thai). 8 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "Thailand shooting: Soldier kills 21 in gun rampage". BBC News. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Chia, Jasmine (9 February 2020). "How social and mainstream media failed us during the Korat mass shooting". Thai Enquirer. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "Thailand's broadcast regulator to meet with TV stations over siege coverage". Thai PBS World. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "โซเชียลวิจารณ์ 'สื่อ' กรณีกราดยิงโคราช ผุด Hashtag #แบนช่องone ขึ้นเทรนด์ Twitter". Techsauce (in Thai). Archived from the original on 11 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Head, Jonathan (12 February 2020). "Thailand struggles to come to terms with first mass shooting". BBC News. Retrieved 12 February 2020.