Police have filed three charges against the "deranged man" who shot the director of Patong Prathanakirivat School and have provided details on how the suspect was able to seize an officer's firearm.
On 12 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Pol. Maj. Gen. Archan Jansiri, Deputy Commander of the 9th Provincial Police Region, Pol. Maj. Gen. Theerasak Chaiyotha, Commander of Songkhla Provincial Police, and investigative officers from Thung Lung Police Station convened to discuss the case involving a man who went on a shooting rampage at Patong Prathanakirivat School, injuring the director and two female students. The director has since died at Hat Yai Hospital.
Initially, 18-year-old Khemanan was charged with three offenses: intentional homicide, attempted murder, and violation of the Firearms Act. Investigators will formally charge him at Hat Yai Hospital where he remains under medical care. He will then be transferred to Songkhla Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital in Muang district, Songkhla, as he is a psychiatric patient.
Regarding yesterday's incident, which raised public questions about how the suspect managed to seize a police officer’s gun, the events began when Thung Lung Police received reports of a man behaving violently toward family members at a residence in Village 1, Patong Subdistrict. Two police patrol officers, accompanied by a village headman, responded. Upon arrival, they found Khemanan in a frenzy, wielding a long knife. Police used tactical methods, including a baton, to attempt to subdue him.
However, Khemanan swung the knife at the officers, who were fortunately protected by their body armor. An officer ran to the police vehicle, which was initially locked, to retrieve a stun gun to control the situation. After unlocking the vehicle, as the officer attempted to open the door, Khemanan lunged with the knife, forcing the officer to dodge. Khemanan then grabbed a gun inside the vehicle, mounted a motorcycle, and fled toward the school to commit the shooting.