An army officer went berzerk and killed two fellow soldiers this morning at a Thai army academy located in the heart of Bangkok’s old quarter.
Sgt. Maj. Yongyuth Mankornkim, 58, was taken into custody at the Royal Thai Army College in Dusit district after he shot three soldiers. After his arrest, he reportedly told the authorities he had fallen short of his goal of shooting 10 people.
Killed were Lt. Gen. Nopparat Inthasunthorn and Lt. Col. Prakarn Sinsong. The third soldier to be shot, Sgt. Maj. Yongyuth Payanuwat, was being treated for his injuries at a nearby hospital.
Yongyuth reportedly blamed his shooting spree on stress.
After opening fire, Yongyuth barricaded himself inside the college. Officers from the army college surrounded the building, and Yongyuth later surrendered.
He was seen being calmly escorted out of the building by two officers in footage shot from the scene.
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The authorities said Yongyuth had been suffering from mental illness for a long time.
There weren’t many soldiers in the building this morning as many were attending an off-site seminar. Investigators are currently collecting evidence.
Autopsies will be performed on the deceased later today.
