Thailand shooting: Soldier who killed 21 people including his commanding officer over a financial dispute is shot dead

A Thai soldier who went on a shooting rampage and killed 21 people including his commanding officer and two fellow soldiers has been shot dead.

Sergeant Major Jakrapanth Thomma, who left a total of 31 people injured, with 10 of them in critical condition, went on the shooting rampage on Saturday afternoon at his barracks after he became angry over a financial dispute. He executed his commanding officer along with two other soldiers, before stealing an army vehicle and posted photos and videos of himself in full gear as he carried out the attack.

Before he went on the shooting rampage, he wrote on his Facebook page: “Death is inevitable for everyone.”

He then drove along the motorway toward the Terminal 21 shopping mall in Korat, a city 155 miles northeast of Bangkok, and opened fire on civilians at a house and a Buddhist temple before making his way inside the mall.

Thai media reported that the suspect’s mother was brought to the mall to try to persuade him to give up.

Sergeant Thomma, 32, who was hiding out in the basement of Terminal 21 shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima for more than 14 hours, was later shot dead by Thai security forces.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul posted on his Facebook page on Sunday morning, congratulating the security forces for their actions and confirmed the death of Sergeant Major Jakrapanth Thomma.

“Thank you police and army for ending the situation. Shooter shot dead!!!”