Nakhon Ratchasima Shootings (2020)

February 8, 2020

On February 8, 2020, a disgruntled sergeant major in the Royal Thai Army opened fire at a military base and later at a crowded shopping mall in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, known locally as Korat. Over roughly 17 hours, the gunman killed 29 people and wounded 58 others, live-streaming portions of his rampage on Facebook before Thai security forces shot him dead inside the mall the following morning. The attack remains the deadliest mass shooting in Thailand's history.

A Grievance Turns Deadly

The shooter, 32-year-old Sergeant Major Jakrapanth Thomma, had reportedly grown furious over a soured financial arrangement involving his commanding officer, Colonel Anantarot Krasae, and the colonel's relatives. Jakrapanth believed he had been cheated out of a commission tied to a land and housing deal brokered through his superior's family connections. Around 3:30 p.m. on February 8, he shot and killed Colonel Anantarot, the officer's mother-in-law, and another relative at a private residence. He then drove to the 22nd Military Circle's Surathampitak Camp in Nakhon Ratchasima, where he stole an HK33 assault rifle, ammunition, and a military Humvee, killing several soldiers on his way out of the base. From there, he began a violent journey into the city, firing at pedestrians and motorists along the road, including outside a Buddhist temple and near a gas station, spreading panic across Korat as reports of an active shooter reached local police and the Thai army.

The Siege at Terminal 21

By early evening, Jakrapanth arrived at Terminal 21 Korat, a large shopping mall packed with shoppers and diners on a Saturday evening, and continued shooting, killing more civilians and taking hostages as he moved through the building. He periodically posted updates and images to his Facebook account, complicating efforts by authorities to track his location and prompting Facebook to eventually remove the page at the government's request. Thai police, military special forces, and even Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's administration coordinated an emergency response, evacuating hundreds of people trapped inside the mall while negotiators attempted to make contact with the gunman overnight. Mobile phone networks in the area were disrupted to limit his ability to communicate. The standoff stretched through the night, with sporadic gunfire heard from inside the complex. Early on the morning of February 9, after roughly 16 hours since the violence began, Thai special forces stormed the basement level of the mall where Jakrapanth was hiding among hostages and shot him dead, bringing the crisis to an end.

Aftermath and National Reckoning

The shootings left 29 people dead, not including the gunman, and 58 others wounded, making it the worst mass killing in modern Thai history, surpassing prior incidents in scale and public shock. The tragedy sparked intense scrutiny of the Royal Thai Army's internal culture, particularly allegations that senior officers exploited subordinates through predatory business schemes involving welfare funds, loans, and property deals, a practice some soldiers said was widespread but rarely challenged. Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong publicly acknowledged the corruption concerns and pledged reforms, while the government faced criticism for allowing live social media broadcasts to potentially aid the attacker and for delays in the tactical response. The incident also reignited debate over Thailand's gun laws and the ease with which military-grade weapons could be diverted for civilian violence. Memorial services were held for victims across Nakhon Ratchasima, and the government announced compensation for victims' families. Terminal 21 Korat reopened weeks later, though the attack left a lasting mark on public perceptions of safety in Thailand's shopping centers and military installations alike.