A shooting took place in the Siam Paragon Shopping Mall in Bangkok yesterday, which left 2 people dead and several others injured.
The alleged gunman, a 14-year-old boy, fired more than 20 shots inside the shopping mall, before he was ultimately subdued and detained by the police.
A video emerged online showing the authorities at his home, finding about 49 rounds of 9mm ammunitions.
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Following the incident, reports have since emerged about the alleged cause of the boy’s shooting spree – the boy’s father purportedly works as a lecturer at a university while his mother teaches IT.
The BBC reported that the boy was being treated for a mental health condition but had stopped taking his medication recently.
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Timeline of events
According to timeline of events provided by the Thai police via The Bangkok Post, the shooter entered Siam Paragon via BTS Link 2 at 3.35 pm, appearing as an ordinary visitor, carrying a shoulder bag, and blended into the crowd.
Security camera footage revealed that five minutes later, he made his way to M floor, where he walked into a restroom. It was during this time that he began to prepare for the horrifying act he was about to commit.
Video and still images shared on social media showed a long-haired Thai male dressed in a black shirt and camouflage pants. He was wearing a baseball cap adorned with the American flag and, alarmingly, carrying a handgun.
At 4.10 pm, gunshots resonated from inside the toilet, instantly transforming the mall’s atmosphere into one of terror and chaos. The shooter, now out in the open, continued to fire at unsuspecting shoppers.
By 4.25 pm, he had moved to the mall’s second floor, continuing his shooting spree without restraint. Panic gripped the mall, and people were desperately seeking shelter.
A few minutes later, the shooter took the escalator to the third floor, where he continued his rampage. Shoppers and staff were trapped.
He was eventually cornered by the police into a furniture shop on the 3rd floor and he then surrendered to the police, putting down his weapon.
Hundred of shoppers were seen in videos circulating online, fleeing the mall and going to the Rama I Road in the Pathum Wan district.
The mall’s entry and exit points were also locked down and the BTW Skyway was also shut down, with the Skytrain bypassing the Siam BTS station on its travel route.
Police officers were seen inside the locked down mall, along with VIPs who had arrived for a briefing, including the Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
The deputy interior minister Chada Thaiset was also seen at the scene interrogating the 14-year-old in front of the media.
Reports revealed that the suspect was a student at a private school in Bangkok, with parents who were working as teachers.
A search of his home unveiled a stash of ammunition, including 49 9mm bullets and 15 spent shells of various sizes.
The authorities also went through his phone and found videos of his practising with a gun.