Teenage Gunman Kills Principal in Thailand School Hostage Siege
A teenage gunman has shot dead a female principal and injured at least two students during a violent hostage siege at a school in southern Thailand. The suspect, whose age has been reported as between 17 and 19 years old, was wounded and captured by police after a dramatic standoff lasting approximately two hours.
Chaotic Attack at Phatong Prathankiriwat School
The provincial government stated that the assailant entered the Phatong Prathankiriwat School in Hat Yai district in an agitated state while carrying a firearm on Wednesday shortly before 5pm local time. He immediately opened fire, creating panic among students and staff.
According to Thailand's Ministry of Public Health, the gunman took the school principal, identified as Sasiphat Sinsamosorn, hostage and shot her multiple times in the chest and torso. Emergency services rushed the critically injured principal to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery, but she succumbed to her injuries at approximately 2am on Thursday from severe internal trauma and massive blood loss.
Injured Students and Extended Hostage Situation
The health ministry confirmed that a female student was shot during the incident, while another student sustained injuries after jumping from a building in panic. Authorities have not released further details about the condition of the injured girl.
Police surrounded the campus immediately after receiving reports of gunfire, locking down the building and trapping numerous students and teachers inside their classrooms. The tense standoff continued for about two hours before the suspect eventually surrendered to authorities.
Suspect's Background and Possible Motives
Reports from multiple Thai media outlets present conflicting details about the assailant. Reuters described him as a 17-year-old with a sister studying at the same school, while The Nation Thailand reported his age as 19. According to Reuters, the teenager has a history of substance abuse and was discharged from a psychiatric hospital in December.
Police revealed that the firearm used in the attack had been stolen from a police officer earlier that day. The Nation reported that officers were initially called to reports of a man allegedly under the influence of drugs acting violently and assaulting people in Ban Phru on Wednesday. When police attempted to control him, he allegedly chased them with an axe, damaged a police vehicle, stole a 9mm handgun, and fled on a motorcycle before proceeding to the school.
The Bangkok Post quoted witnesses suggesting the gunman was seeking a teacher who had previously disciplined his sister, threatening violence if the teacher refused to meet him. However, these claims have not been independently verified, and police have not shared official information about the assailant's precise motives.
School Community Mourns and Thailand's Gun Violence Problem
In a heartfelt message posted on Facebook, the school paid tribute to Principal Sasiphat, writing: "Although we have lost you, the memories and the goodness you left behind will remain in our hearts forever."
This tragic incident highlights Thailand's ongoing struggle with gun violence, where both legal and illegal firearms remain widespread. The country has witnessed several high-profile attacks in recent years, including a shooting at a Bangkok food market last year that left five people dead, and a 2023 mall shooting carried out by another teenage gunman.
In 2022, Thailand experienced one of its deadliest mass shootings when a former police officer killed at least 37 people, most of them children, in a horrific attack that shocked the nation and prompted calls for stricter gun control measures.
