Ex-cop suspected of killing 36 people, including 24 kids, in Thailand day care massacre

Peter Sblendorio

The deadliest massacre in Thailand’s history began Thursday at a day care center and continued with the suspect, an ex-cop, firing a gun as he left the scene, killing at least 36 people, officials said.

The victims included at least 22 children who were killed at the day care in Nongbua Lamphu, and two others who died somewhere else, according to authorities. The suspect allegedly later killed his wife and child at their home before killing himself.

In this image taken from video, officials enter the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, north eastern Thailand. More than 30 people, primarily children, were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire the childcare center authorities said.
In this image taken from video, officials enter the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, north eastern Thailand. More than 30 people, primarily children, were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire the childcare center authorities said.


In this image taken from video, officials enter the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, north eastern Thailand. More than 30 people, primarily children, were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire the childcare center authorities said.

Identified as 34-year-old Panya Kamrap, the suspect was a former police officer who was scheduled to appear in court Friday for a charge involving the drug methamphetamine, officials said. He was fired from the police force earlier this year.

The incident left nearly 60 other people wounded as well. The gunman allegedly used a handgun to shoot through a locked door at the day care, a witness told the local news station Kom Chad Luek.

“The teacher who died, she had a child in her arms,” the unnamed witness said. “I didn’t think he would kill children, but he shot at the door and shot right through it.”

A first responder prays over one of numerous bodies at the site of an attack in a day care center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, north eastern Thailand.
A first responder prays over one of numerous bodies at the site of an attack in a day care center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, north eastern Thailand.


A first responder prays over one of numerous bodies at the site of an attack in a day care center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, north eastern Thailand.

Bodies of the victims were reportedly pictured in photos taken by emergency responders, with the images showing slain children on the blankets where they were napping in the afternoon.

“We are still investigating all of this and have to learn from it,” police chief Damrongsak Kittiprapha said. “Today is the first day and we don’t have all the details.”

In this mug shot released by the Nong Bua Lamphu Provincial Public Relations Office, a suspected assailant is shown in the attack in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northern Thailand, Oct. 6, 2022.
In this mug shot released by the Nong Bua Lamphu Provincial Public Relations Office, a suspected assailant is shown in the attack in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northern Thailand, Oct. 6, 2022.


In this mug shot released by the Nong Bua Lamphu Provincial Public Relations Office, a suspected assailant is shown in the attack in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northern Thailand, Oct. 6, 2022.

The shooter primarily fired a 9mm pistol but used a shotgun and a knife as well, officials said.

“He started shooting, slashing, killing children at the Utai Sawan daycare centre,” Police Maj. Gen. Paisal Luesomboon told ThaiPBS, according to Reuters.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is expected to go to the scene of the shooting Friday.

“This shouldn’t happen,” he told reporters Thursday. “I feel deep sadness toward the victims and their relatives.”

In this image taken from video, officials enter the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand. More than 30 people, primarily children, were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire at the childcare center, authorities said.
In this image taken from video, officials enter the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand. More than 30 people, primarily children, were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire at the childcare center, authorities said.
In this image taken from video, an ambulance is loaded at the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand. More than 30 people, primarily children, were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire in childcare center, authorities said.
In this image taken from video, an ambulance is loaded at the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand. More than 30 people, primarily children, were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire in childcare center, authorities said.
In this image taken from video, a distraught woman is led away from the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand.
In this image taken from video, a distraught woman is led away from the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand.
In this image taken from video, people gather outside the site of an attack at a daycare canter, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand. More than 30 people, primarily children, were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire in the childcare center, authorities said.
In this image taken from video, people gather outside the site of an attack at a daycare canter, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand. More than 30 people, primarily children, were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire in the childcare center, authorities said.
In this image taken from video, a distraught woman is comforted outside the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand.
In this image taken from video, a distraught woman is comforted outside the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand.
A resident donates blood at the local hospital for victims of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand.
A resident donates blood at the local hospital for victims of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand.
In this mug shot released by the Nong Bua Lamphu Provincial Public Relations Office, a suspected assailant is shown in the attack in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northern Thailand, Oct. 6, 2022. More than 30 people, primarily children, were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire in a childcare center in northeastern Thailand and later killed himself, authorities said.
In this image taken from video, a distraught woman is comforted outside the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand.
In this image taken from video, a distraught woman is comforted outside the site of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand.
Residents line up to donate blood at the local hospital for victims of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand.
Residents line up to donate blood at the local hospital for victims of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand.
Residents line up to donate blood at the local hospital for victims of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand. More than 30 people, primarily children, were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire in the childcare center, authorities said.
Residents line up to donate blood at the local hospital for victims of an attack at a daycare center, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in the town of Nongbua Lamphu, northeastern Thailand. More than 30 people, primarily children, were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire in the childcare center, authorities said.

Rain in the area prevented some people from coming to the day care Thursday, causing only about 30 kids to be there when the suspect arrived, district official Jidapa Boonsom told Reuters.

“The shooter came in around lunch time and shot four or five officials at the childcare center first,” Jidapa said.

“It’s really shocking. We were very scared and running to hide once we knew it was shooting. So many children got killed, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

The attack comes two years after a soldier opened fire at a Nakhon Ratchasima mall in 2020 in what was Thailand’s previous deadliest mass shooting.

With News Wire Services

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