The root cause of the terrifying incident: a man went berserk and opened fire at a school in Hat Yai District, Songkhla. The local mayor revealed the challenges in controlling the situation, noting that the community remains traumatized and is calling for central agencies to intervene to combat widespread drug abuse.
Following the incident where a man went berserk and entered Patong Prachan Kirivat School in Patong Subdistrict, Hat Yai District, Songkhla, three people were injured. Among them was Mrs. Sasiphat Sinsomros, the school director, who was shot in the left chest. She was rushed to Hat Yai Hospital but later succumbed to her injuries. Although police quickly brought the situation under control, locals expressed concerns about underlying issues that triggered this tragic event.
The death of Sasiphat Sinsomros, the director of Patong Prachan Kirivat School, who was critically wounded by gunfire, deeply saddened students and the local community. The "Thairath Online" special news team interviewed Mr. Patchasit Soraprasit, mayor of Patong Subdistrict, Hat Yai District, Songkhla, who disclosed that the school would close for two days. Regarding the shooter's motive, it was reported that he was a psychiatric patient with a history of drug abuse.
On the day of the incident, the man was reportedly in a frenzy in Village 9, Ban Khlong Ya, Ban Phru Subdistrict, before his father alerted the village head and police to intervene. However, they were unable to control him before he stole a gun from a police vehicle. He then rode a motorcycle to the school. The perpetrator was delusional, believing that teachers at the school had a conflict with his younger sibling. The true cause stemmed from his psychotic frenzy.
Controlling the perpetrator was difficult because he was not a resident of Patong but came from another area. Prevention was challenging as he possessed a powerful firearm.
"Currently, local authorities plan to conduct drills for handling confrontations in educational settings. Normally, Director Sasiphat worked closely with the community and was dedicated and caring towards her students," the mayor said.
The community remains shocked by the incident. Children present at the school on that day are being closely cared for by their families. Meanwhile, local officials are coordinating with public health agencies and Hat Yai Hospital to provide mental health support to residents and children.
The mayor emphasized to the government that drug abuse is widespread in the area, making it difficult for local agencies to manage, especially with substances like kratom tea, e-cigarettes, and online gambling becoming rampant beyond the capacity of local responders. Despite efforts, the root problems have not diminished.
He urged central authorities to seriously crack down on drug trafficking in the area. Although state measures have been implemented, the situation has not improved. Youth involvement is increasing, with younger ages engaging in drug transactions on a larger scale. Additionally, kratom shops often conceal e-cigarettes as well.