Thailand kindergarten shooting: Gunman Tatsapong Tongthat surrenders to police after teacher gunned down
Authorities said the accused gunman fled to his home after the deadly attack inside the school building sparked the evacuation of 44 children.
A police officer who allegedly gunned down his wife at the kindergarten where she was a teacher in eastern Thailand surrendered Thursday after an overnight standoff with authorities, officials said.
Tatsapong Tongthat, an officer at the Bang Lamung station in Chonburi province, allegedly killed his wife late Wednesday morning inside a building at the Nongplalai Municipal Kindergarten about 150 kilometres southeast of the capital Bangkok, according to the provincial government.
Authorities said he fled to his home after the shooting and police surrounded the house, where he remained until surrendering after an 18-hour standoff.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.All 44 students at the school were unharmed and evacuated with other teachers after the shooting. Classes were suspended until Friday as a safety precaution, officials said.
Channel News Asia reported at the time that Sayan Klomaon, chairman of Nong Pla Lai sub-district council said the assailant arrived at the school at 10.30am and briefly talked to his wife before shooting her.
He added that no students witnessed the shooting because it took place outside the classroom.
School safety and gun violence in Thailand have come under scrutiny after a 14-year-old opened fire at his high school and family home on August 7, killing eight people and injuring more than 20 before apparently taking his own life.
Another 14-year-old student was arrested September 2 after he fired several shots but failed to injure anyone at his school in Kamphaeng Phet province, 200 km north of Bangkok.
Calls for tighter controls on firearms have intensified and the national government has ordered a review of gun regulations, including suspension of new permits to purchase firearms and a review of existing permits.
Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia despite fairly restrictive gun laws. While mass shootings are still rare, Thailand has seen an uptick in high-profile attacks in recent years.
