A mentally ill man committed suicide after fatally shooting a police lieutenant colonel who was attempting to negotiate an end to a family hostage situation in Bang Bon district, Bangkok, early Sunday morning.
Police were alerted at 9:45 PM on Saturday and rushed to a three-story building in the DK Rama 2 housing estate on Rama II Road after being informed of a deranged gunman holding family members hostage, according to the Royal Thai Police Office.
Pol Lt Col Kittichon Janyarom, 59, deputy chief of Tha Kham police station, and his team approached the building to initiate negotiations. Pol Lt Col Kittichon was shot three times in the chest and hand and was later pronounced dead at Mali Hospital. His subordinate, a police senior sergeant major, sustained minor injuries.
Daughter Pistol-Whipped
Following the shooting, police rescued family members from the house, including a 15-year-old daughter who had been struck in the face with a gun. The daughter reported that her father had four guns, including a shotgun, and ammunition.
A rescue worker mentioned that last month, colleagues had sent the man to a mental health facility at the request of local police. The man had threatened to harm the rescue workers at that time. It was reported that the man had not been treated and had failed to take his prescribed medications for a year.
Police Response and Events Timeline
Overnight, police instructed neighbors to stay indoors for their safety while attempting to calm the gunman. Police officers used a loudspeaker to negotiate with the man, and gunshots were intermittently heard from inside. The events unfolded as follows:
- 3:00 AM: Police used a robot to survey the scene.
- 4:40 AM: The gunman fired one shot.
- 5:20-5:27 AM: Police fired five teargas shots into the building.
- 5:28 AM: Four gunshots were heard.
- 5:29-5:35 AM: Police fired six gunshots.
- 5:38 AM: One gunshot and one blank grenade explosion were heard.
- 5:40-5:49 AM: Eight gunshots were heard.
- 5:51 AM: Police called ambulances to the building and cordoned it off while waiting for forensic science officers.
The gunman, identified only as Boonma, 49, was found dead on a mezzanine. Police then informed neighbors via loudspeaker that the situation had ended and they could resume their routines.
