NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Forensic police have entered the Terminal 21 shopping centre in the municipal capital of this northeastern province to collect evidence after a mass shooting that killed 27 people, including the gunman, and injured 57 others.
Forensic officers examined the outside of the building and then went inside the shopping centre on Sunday to collect evidence. The area remained cordoned off to allow authorities to conduct their investigation in the wake of the mass killing.
Authorities said they were yet to determine the motive behind the carnage carried out by Jakrapanth Thomma, 32, of the Surathampithak army camp, although police and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha earlier said his murderous rage was apparently fuelled by a land dispute with a relative of his commanding officer.
The latest death toll from the rampage stood at 27, including the gunman, while 57 others were injured, including at least 12 who needed emergency surgery at hospitals, according to a Government House statement.
Terminal 21 is located in the province's Muang district, about 220km from Bangkok.
Killing timeline
Nakhon Ratchasima governor Wichien Chantharanothai and other security authorities told a press briefing that security forces killed Sgt Maj 1st Class Jakrapanth at 8.50am on Sunday, almost 18 hours after he gunned down his first victims at 3pm on Saturday.
The horrific ordeal lasted so long because the attacker was well equipped with firearms and was a trained sharpshooter, security authorities said. Police and soldiers had to consider the safety of people trapped inside Terminal 21 after the gunman entered the building and opened fire.
They did not give details on the first shooting at 3.30pm. Earlier reports said Sgt Maj 1st Class Jakrapanth killed his supervisor and two others and then stole firearms, ammunition and a Humvee from three different locations.
He then drove the vehicle to the mall, shooting at people and vehicles along the way. He entered Terminal 21 at around 6pm, and then took shoppers and workers hostage.
Authorities sealed off Terminal 21, and a two-kilometre radius around the mall, at about 7pm.
Reporters outside Terminal 21 said they heard sporadic exchanges of gunfire until about 5am on Sunday.
Security sources said the gunman was killed on the lower ground floor near Foodland supermarket.
Police leave the Terminal 21 mall after completing their mission on Sunday. (Reuters photo)
Assault weapons stolen
Army spokesman Winthai Suvaree said on Sunday the assailant stole two rifles, one M60 machine gun and 770 rounds of ammunition from the barracks.
The police-led operation comprised six units, including the Ratchawallop Police Retainers, King’s Guard 904, the commando unit that provides security for the monarch. The others were Hanuman of the Crime Suppression Division, the Metropolitan Police Bureau's Arintharat unit, the Naresuan counter-terrorism unit, forces based at the Provincial Police Region 3 Office and special forces of the army's Suranaree task force.
Police sources said their first mission was to evacuate everyone from the building. They then hunted the murderous gunman down.