Sergeant Jakrapanth opened fire to kill at least 17 people and then entrenched himself in a shopping center in Nakhon Ratchasima, northeastern Thailand today.

"The gunman opened fire on the street, more than 10 people were killed and many were injured. Police have sealed off the area to track the suspect," Krissana Pattanacharoen, a police spokesman, said this afternoon.

A Thai health official later confirmed that 17 people were killed and 14 injured in the shootings.

Lt. Gen Thanya Kriatisarn, a Thai military spokesman, said the suspect in the shootings was Sergeant Jakrapanth Thomma, a military officer of the 22nd Air Force Brigade stationed at Suratham Phithak base in Nakhon Ratchasima. "Military people generally use well-trained guns, but this person certainly has more skills," said General Thanya.

General Thanya said Jakrapanth had an argument with his commander Colonel Anantharot Krasnae, so he shot and killed him. He then took Colonel Anantharot's gun and went out to shoot his comrades.

The suspect then took more guns in the storehouse, stole a Humvee armored vehicle from the base, opened fire on pedestrians and police cars as he drove to Terminal 21 shopping center.

Before entering the mall, Jakrapanth fired several compressed air tanks, causing explosions and a big fire outside the door. He broadcast live on social media the shootings inside the mall, took a selfie with a rifle and a shotgun with amulets wrapped around the barrel, claiming that he was "taking revenge".

"Getting rich from corruption and taking advantage of others, they think they can bring money to hell," Jakrapanth declared, but it was not clear who it was aimed at.

Witnesses said Jakrapanth had just entered the mall while shooting, causing the crowd to flee. Photos posted by Jakrapanth on social networking accounts showed him wearing a helmet and wearing a military uniform.

"I'm tired, I can't move my fingers anymore," he said in a live streaming video, after shooting several people.

Local media said among the dead there were many taxi drivers and one student. Jakrapanth is said to be holding 16 hostages and entrenched inside the fourth floor of the mall, which can tie grenades on people.

Jakrapanth's shooting engine is not yet clear, but some sources say he has a conflict with his superiors regarding a land dispute.

"We don't know why he did that. It seems he was crazy," said Kongcheep Tantrawanit, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.

Thai army commander Apirat Kongsompong ordered local army commanders to come to the scene and investigate Jakrapanth's firing engine.

A Thai army task force was deployed to Terminal 21 shopping center, preparing to raid where Jakrapanth entrenched.

The streets near the commercial center have been blocked, security forces have set up a fence within 1.6 km around the scene, suggesting that people do not come near this area.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha sent his condolences to the families of the dead, a Thai government spokesman said.

In an effort to control the situation, Thai authorities contacted the mother of a suspect living in Chaiyaphum province and wanted her to go to the scene to persuade her son to surrender.

Thailand has one of the highest gun ownership rates in the world, with one in 10 legally owning a gun. However, the shootings of soldiers on civilians are very rare in this Southeast Asian country.

In November 2019, retired police major General Thanin Chantratip shot and killed the plaintiff Bancha Porameekhanaporn and two others at a trial of a land dispute lawsuit in Tha Mai district, Chanthaburi province. Thanin was shot down by a police guard at the court, Bancha plaintiff and lawyer Wijai Sukharom died at the hospital.

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