A disgruntled cop who barricaded himself into his Bangkok home and held off officers in a standoff lasting over 24 hours died last night.
Lt. Col. Kittikarn Sangboon, 51, died of gunshot wounds sustained during his long running gunbattle with other police officers, according to Col. Rangsan Songsingh of Sai Mai Police.
He was pronounced dead shortly before 10pm on Wednesday at the Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital.
Reports were inconsistent as to whether Kittikarn was shot three times or upward of six. More details were expected to be made public later today.
On Tuesday, Kittikarn fired multiple shots at his housing complex in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district, which began the nearly 30-hour standoff and shootout. Tear gas was eventually deployed by the police to subdue Kittkarn.
On Wednesday afternoon, Kittikarn was apprehended after leaping out a second story window. He worked at the Intelligence Development Center for the Special Branch Bureau.
Kittikarn was said to have a history of mental illness. A friend told reporters yesterday that Kittkarn was obsessed with “gods and devils” and the end of the world.
Anucha Burapachaisri, a deputy secretary to the prime minister, said this morning that Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha expressed his condolences to Kittikarn’s family.
Prayuth also instructed the authorities to compensate his neighbors who were affected by the shootout and standoff. Some residents were evacuated from their homes.
Given the number of incidents involving rampaging police in recent years, an opposition candidate for the Move Forward Party, Sasinan Thamnitinan, said it was another example of why police reforms should be made as soon as possible.
“The shooting can be solved with good politics,” Sasinan wrote, saying that Thailand should work on improving the civil service, making assignments more fair, and better caring for the well-being of officers.
Related
Standoff with violent Bangkok cop ends after 25 hours
Standoff enters 2nd day at home of trigger-happy Bangkok cop
