THE gunman who fired shots at rescuers in Chonburi as they attempted to help his girlfriend who he had beaten up and also later took his father-in-law hostage said after surrendering to police this afternoon (Feb. 18) that his argument with his girlfriend stemmed from jealousy and he had never posted any messages threatening schools, Amarin TV said.
The gunman, Mr. Noparat (surname withheld), or “L”, 31, who surrendered to police via Pol. Lt. Gen. Kamronwit Thupkrachang, president of the Pathum Thani Provincial Administrative Organisation, admitted to having consumed kratom and marijuana.
Police had offered a 50,000 baht bounty for his capture.
This incident began on Sunday Feb. 15 when the suspect severely injured his girlfriend in Chonburi then fired at rescuers passing by in their emergency vehicle who attempted to help her, getting annoyed at being warned about parking in a dangerous spot on the motorway.
He later also took his father-in-law hostage at their home province Pathum Thani to force his girlfriend to come out of her home but the latter managed to escape by jumping out of a moving car.
Seventeen schools in Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi were closed after several parents had called to enquire about the safety of their children this morning.
The suspect arrived at Pathum Thani provincial police headquarters at 3.55 p.m. accompanied by Pol. Lt. Gen. Kamronwit but refused to answer reporters’ questions.
He later apologised for this incident saying he surrendered because he saw that many schoolchildren, including his own children and nephews and nieces, were suffering and that he didn’t give up earlier because he was uneasy over which police unit would be handling his case but he trusted Pol. Lt. Gen. Kamronwit because he is also a Pathum Thani native.
He insisted that he never posted any message nor made any threatening remarks towards schools that had panicked and never thought of harming schoolchildren with his own children and nephews and nieces also attending school.
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Top and Front Page – The gunman after he surrendered at the police station. Photos – Amarin TV
Earlier report:
50,000 baht bounty for capture of gunman on the run
