Thai Prime Minister: "27 Dead and 57 Injured in Soldier Shopping Mall Shooting"

Bullet marks are visible on the glass wall of the large shopping mall 'Terminal 21 Korat Mall' in Nakhon Ratchasima city, northeastern Thailand, where a mass shooting incident occurred on the 9th (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The Thai government announced that 27 people died in a mass shooting at a shopping mall carried out by a soldier in Thailand.

According to local media on the 9th, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made the announcement in front of a hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima City, Thailand. The deceased included the shooter who was killed. He added that 57 people were reported injured.

Prime Minister Prayut explained the motive for the crime as "a personal issue related to a housing transaction."

The incident began around 3:30 p.m. the previous day within a military base in Nakhon Ratchasima City, Thailand. Senior Sergeant Chakraphan Thomma (32) shot and killed three people, including his commander, then stole firearms and ammunition from the armory. He hijacked a military vehicle and opened fire at the large city shopping mall 'Terminal 21 Korat Mall.' Afterwards, he took some customers hostage and engaged in a standoff with responding military and police forces until he was shot dead around 9 a.m. that day.

The perpetrator took selfies while shooting and also broadcasted the event live worldwide via Facebook Live. Facebook immediately deleted the perpetrator's account.