Ex-soldier shoots school handyman in drug-induced rampage in Thailand

An ex-soldier allegedly opened fire at a school and injured a handyman in Thailand.

Disgruntled former serviceman Sergeant Major Palangrat Pumpuang, 35, reportedly discharged a CZ-455 rifle from the second floor of his home in Chaiyaphum province on October 8.

The bullet struck handyman Theeradol Saen-ngo, 24, who was installing windows at a nearby school for the deaf. He stumbled onto the street bleeding from a gunshot to his right hip. He was rushed to the Chaiyaphum Hospital as alarmed teachers called the police.

Police Colonel Prasith Premkamol, superintendent of the Muang Chaiyaphum Police Station, said a team was dispatched to arrest Palangrat, who had barricaded himself inside his house.

They surrounded the residence and brought his grandmother Khoonsap Pumpuang to negotiate, but he allegedly refused to surrender.

More than 20 officers then stormed inside and tasered him. They also seized two handguns, two rifles, a gun scope, a silencer, three bulletproof vests, and more than 300 rounds of ammunition.

Police Major General Rapipong Sukpaiboon, Deputy Commander of the Provincial Police Region 3, led the operation.

He said: 'The case involved a soldier with expertise in using firearms, so we had to plan carefully to avoid any losses and, most importantly, to work against time.

'We nabbed him before nightfall, and the mission concluded without any casualties. The next step is to find the motive for this incident and proceed with legal action.'

During questioning, Palangrat said he was a soldier stationed along Thailand's southern border. He claimed he had been suspended for two years for alleged drug use and violent behaviour, though he denied the charges.

He was also accused of physically assaulting his wife and having anger issues.

Initially, Palangrat allegedly denied firing the rifle but later confessed to being the perpetrator. He said he had bought his guns from the Volunteer Defense Corps, and that they were all registered.

He said: 'It is true that I fired the gun, but I did not intend to hurt anyone. I was taking drugs because I was stressed from work and family problems.'

Police have not clarified what drugs Palangrat was taking. They said they were investigating the case.

Doctors said they have successfully remove the bullet from injured handyman Theeradol. They added he was now in stable condition, but is still under observation at the hospital.

Thailand has one of the highest gun ownership and gun homicide rates among Southeast Asian nations. Many of the firearms are believed to be sold by government and police officers on the black market or under the government's 'gun welfare programme', where they are traded on at a discounted rate.

The persistent gun culture is said to stem from a distrust of crime control policies, especially in rural areas.

Former Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had previously vowed to tighten gun control laws following a shooting at a Bangkok mall in October 2023 that rattled locals in the capital.