Suspected gunman in Thailand kindergarten shooting surrenders after 18-hour standoff

Banglamung police officer Tatsapong Tongthat allegedly killed his wife at Nongplalai Municipal Kindergarten in eastern Thailand on Wednesday morning, according to the provincial government. He then fled to his home after the shooting and police surrounded his residence, where he remained until surrendering after an 18-hour standoff on Thursday, officials said.

All 44 students at the school were unharmed and evacuated with other teachers following the incident, Chonburi Governor Naris Niramaiwong stated on Facebook. Classes were suspended until Friday as a precautionary measure. The shooting has reignited discussions surrounding school safety and gun violence in Thailand, with recent incidents including a 14-year-old student who opened fire at his high school and family home on August 7, resulting in eight deaths and over 20 injuries.

Another 14-year-old was arrested on September 2 after attempting to shoot his school in Kamphaeng Phet province north of Bangkok. Calls for stricter firearm regulations have grown, leading the national government to order a review of gun laws, including the suspension of new firearm permits and a review of existing ones. Despite relatively restrictive gun laws, Thailand boasts one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia.

While mass shootings remain uncommon, the country has witnessed a surge in high-profile attacks in recent years.