NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand (Reuters) – At least 29 people were killed and dozens were wounded in an 18-hour shooting spree in northeastern Thailand that ended in an overnight standoff at a busy shopping mall.
What is known about the attacker:
** The shooter has been identified by authorities as 32-year-old soldier Jakrapanth Thomma.
** He worked at an army base about 250 km (155 miles) from Bangkok.
** Jakrapanth was a sharp shooter and took many special courses on attacking, including planning ambushes, army sources said.
** He was involved in a dispute over a house sale with a relative of his commanding officer, according to the Thai prime minister and police.
** Hours before the attack began on Saturday, he had posted on Facebook denouncing greedy people who took advantage of others. “Do they think they can spend the money in hell?”
** After the attack began, he posted: “Death is inevitable for everyone” and said his fingers were cramping. Facebook then cut off his account.
Reporting by Bangkok bureau; Editing by Kay Johnson, Simon Cameron-Moore and Frances Kerry
Source : Denver Post
