A doctorate lecturer believed to have killed two university colleagues shot himself in the head after a five-hour standoff with police who tried to negotiate his surrender. His condition is unknown.
Wanchai Danaitamonut used the pistol he was carrying to shoot himself as shocked police, reporters, students and relatives stood nearby in a vain attempt to get him to put the weapon down.
The gunshot was heard at 6.44pm. He was immediately rushed by ambulance to a hospital. His condition remains unknown and police have sealed off the area.
He was surrounded by police in Saphan Khwai area on Thursday afternoon, in a gun-point drama televised live by news channels.
Dr Wanchai, 60, is the prime suspect in the murder of two PhD lecturers -- Pichai Chaisongkram, 56, and Natthapol Chumworathayee, 54 -- in a conference room at Phranakhon Rajabhat University in Bang Khen district on Thursday.
Mr Wanchai was spotted sitting in his car at hotel car park in Saphan Khwai area at about 1.30pm. A police commando team went to the hotel and surrounded him. Mr Wanchai later got out of the car and pointed a handgun at his head.
The police brought a relative of Mr Wanchai's in to help. Together they tried to persuade Mr Wanchai to surrender.
The Wednesday murders occurred while a student was defending a thesis inside the room, with Pichai serving as chairman of the testing committee and Natthapol as the student’s adviser.
Mr Wanchai burst into the room and allegedly opened fire at them with a 9mm calibre pistol.
A source said the shooting was believed to have been motivated by a personal conflict and had nothing to do with the university. It was believed to have been pre-planned, as the suspect had reportedly asked for information about the schedule of the thesis test.