A Royal Thai Army sergeant held seven employees hostage before shooting himself at a 7-Eleven in Mae Rim early this morning, Oct. 15.
The hostage situation started when Sergeant Phongphan Punghong, 37 entered the store in Ban Huai Nam Rin on Chotana Road (Highway 107) in Khi Lek, Mae Rim at around 3:50 a.m.
The sergeant, who is described in reports as being both frantic and depressed, demanded that staff in the 7-Eleven live-stream the event to LINE which they did. Sergeant Punghong then took a 7-Eleven employee to the front of the store while ranting on the LINE live stream. Why he took the hostages is not clear.
Police were quick to the scene where they confronted the soldier, attempting to get him to put down his gun. Instead, Sergeant Punghong shot himself in the head.
Sergeant Punghong was rushed to Nakhon Ping Hospital where he later died at around 8 a.m. from his injuries.
Police and the Royal Thai Army are investigating, trying to ascertain what may have been his motivation to take the 7-Eleven employees hostage.
Photo: INN News
