A former police officer, fired months earlier over drug offenses, came looking for his young stepson at a rural child care center. When he couldn't find him, he began shooting.
The Attack
On October 6, 2022, a gunman attacked a child care center in the Uthai Sawan district of Nong Bua Lamphu province in northeastern Thailand, killing at least 36 people -- including 24 children -- before continuing to shoot people from his car as he fled. Police identified the attacker as Panya Kamrap (also transliterated Kamrab), 34, a former police sergeant dismissed from the force earlier that year over methamphetamine possession, who was due in court on related drug charges the following day.
What Investigators Believe Happened
According to police, Kamrap arrived at the center intending to pick up his 2-year-old stepson. When he couldn't locate the boy, he began the attack, using a handgun, shotgun, and knife. His mother later told investigators he had seemed highly stressed following his court hearing that day and may have used drugs beforehand.
After the Attack
Kamrap fired at bystanders while fleeing, then drove home, where he killed his wife and stepson before taking his own life.
A Community in Shock
The attack prompted a national outpouring of grief across Thailand and a visit from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who called it "shocking." The United Nations Children's Fund issued a statement condemning the violence. It remains the deadliest mass killing carried out by a single individual in Thailand's modern history.
FAQ
How many people died in the attack?
Reporting varies between 36 and 38 total deaths, including 24 children at the center, with two more deaths -- the attacker's wife and stepson -- following at his home.
Who was responsible?
Panya Kamrap, a 34-year-old former Thai police officer dismissed from the force earlier in 2022 over drug-related offenses.
What happened to the attacker?
He died by suicide after killing his wife and stepson at their home following the attack.