A female teacher was shot dead at her school in southern Thailand’s Hat Yai district on Wednesday, in an incident involving a 17-year-old suspect who used a stolen police firearm.
Teacher succumbs to injuries after shooting
The victim, Sasiphat Sinsamosorn, who also served as director of Patongprathankiriwat School in Songkhla Province’s Hat Yai district, was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.
She was admitted to the intensive care unit but died around 2am Thursday due to severe internal organ injuries and heavy blood loss, according to the health ministry.
A female student was also wounded in the attack. Her condition has not been made public.
The school posted a heartfelt message on its Facebook page: “Although we have lost you, the memories and the goodness you left behind will remain in our heart forever.”
Suspect detained with history of substance abuse
Provincial officials said the 17-year-old suspect, who has a younger sister studying at the school, was quickly detained by police.
He allegedly used a firearm stolen from a police officer to carry out the shooting.
Authorities noted that the teenager has a known history of substance abuse and had been discharged from a psychiatric hospital in December.
Gun violence remains a concern in Thailand
Gun ownership and gun-related incidents continue to occur in Thailand despite regulatory controls.
In one of the country’s worst cases, a former police officer carried out a gun-and-knife attack at a nursery in the eastern region in 2002, killing 36 people, including 22 children.
