Policeman allegedly shoots teacher wife dead at kindergarten
A police officer allegedly shot his wife dead while she was at work at a kindergarten in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, Thailand, on Wednesday morning (9 Sept).
The shooting happened at around 10.30am at Nong Pla Lai Municipality Kindergarten in Nong Pla Lai Subdistrict.
44 students and six teachers and staff members evacuated
Police and rescue teams rushed to the school after receiving reports of the shooting, Thai PBS reported.
They found 44 kindergarten students and six teachers and staff members inside the premises.
Source: ThaiPBS
All students were safely evacuated to a secure area in front of the school, with parents later arriving to bring them home.
No children were injured, although several were reportedly frightened and crying after the incident.
Teacher shot while at school
The victim was identified as 48-year-old Pailin Thongthach.
According to Bangkok Post, police found her body in a passageway near the school canteen, with a gunshot wound to the back of her neck. A 9mm shell casing was also recovered from the scene.
Source: สำนักงานประชาสัมพันธ์จังหวัดชลบุรี – Chonburi PR on Facebook
An eyewitness, Somyot Sanguanworapong, said he saw a man arrive at the school in a sedan before approaching Ms Pailin and speaking with her.
Moments later, he heard a gunshot. People nearby panicked and fled, while the gunman reportedly returned to his vehicle and drove away.
Teachers kept students inside their classrooms for around 20 minutes, fearing the shooter might still be nearby.
Suspected shooter identified as police officer
Police later identified the suspected gunman as Pol Sub-Lt Tassapong Thongthach, a patrol officer at Bang Lamung Police Station and Ms Pailin’s husband.
Source: สำนักงานประชาสัมพันธ์จังหวัดชลบุรี – Chonburi PR on Facebook
Authorities said he returned to his home, located around 3km from the school, after the shooting and remained inside.
Armed officers led by Bang Lamung police chief Pol Col Sarawut Nutchanart surrounded the residence and attempted to negotiate his surrender.
Alleged gunman surrendered after 20-hour standoff
Armed special operations officers were deployed in the area as police officers encircled the alleged gunman’s property.
The police also cordoned off the premises and evacuated nearby residents while maintaining efforts to negotiate the suspect’s surrender.
The standoff spanned the entire night, with relatives and acquaintances taking turns urging him to surrender.
Tassapong finally agreed to surrender at 6.20am on Thursday (10 Sept) following repeated appeals from his son, who had travelled from the south to convince him to step outside.
Appearing stressed and exhausted, the suspect emerged unarmed from the residence, and informed police of the firearm’s location inside the house.
Governor orders suspension of classes
Shortly after the incident, at around 1pm, Chon Buri Province Governor Naris Niramaiwong ordered the immediate suspension of classes at the kindergarten.
He also deployed a team to provide mental health support for affected students, teachers, and school personnel.
Source: สำนักงานประชาสัมพันธ์จังหวัดชลบุรี – Chonburi PR on Facebook
According to Khaosod, the motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
Police are continuing investigations and gathering evidence from the scene.
Third school shooting in Thailand in recent weeks
The incident comes after two other school shootings in Thailand within the past month, Bangkok Post highlighted.
On 7 Aug, a 14-year-old student at Debsirin Nonthaburi School went on a shooting rampage that left seven people dead, including the gunman, who had earlier killed his grandparents.
On 2 Sept, another 14-year-old boy entered Wachiraprakarn Witthayakhom School in Kamphaeng Phet with his police father’s handgun and fired multiple shots.
A security guard suffered a minor injury after being grazed by a bullet.
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Featured image adapted from สำนักงานประชาสัมพันธ์จังหวัดชลบุรี – Chonburi PR on Facebook.
