Soldiers and police have launched a joint hunt for Sergeant-Major Jakapan Thomma, who allegedly went on a shooting rampage in Nakhon Ratchasima province, gunning down at least 16 people with some 15 people injured, The Nation Thailand reports.
The suspect is reported to have sneaked into Terminal 21 shopping mall in Muang district and taken some people hostage there. Soldiers have cordoned off the area.
According to the Nation Thailand, police in Korat was informed at 3pm on Saturday about the shooting in a house in Muang district. At the scene of the crime, Colonel Anantaroj Krasae, 48, from the Surathampitak barracks was found shot dead along with Anong Mitchan, 65. Colonel Anantroj was the commander of Jakapan and Anong was, according to reports, the mother-in-law of the slain commander.
Jakapan also reportedly shot at some soldiers in the barracks and later fled the scene of the crime in a humvee. Along the way, he again went on a shooting spree that left two police and two civilians injured.
