Pak Phanang school shooting explained

Pak Phanang school shooting
Location:Pak Phanang school, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Target:Sicharat Kumsuk
Coordinates:8.3561°N 100.2026°W
Type:Mass shooting, school shooting
Fatalities:2
Injuries:4
Perpetrator:Anatcha Boonkwan

On June 6, 2003, a mass shooting occurred at the in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. The gunman, then 17-year-old Anatcha Boonkwan (a.k.a. "Nung") fatally shot two of his fellow students, and injured four others, using a semi-automatic pistol. This was apparently due to his argument with classmate Sicharat Kumsuk, who was his actual target.

Victims

The two killed were:[1]

The five injured were:[2]

All the injured victims were 17 at the time of the incident.

Shooting

Anatcha Boonkwan, the perpetrator,[3] was a student at the Pak Phanang school. A day prior to the shooting, Boonkwan had a tiff with his classmate, Sicharat Kumsuk. According to Kumsuk, it was a "trading of insults".[4] On June 6, 2003, while students gathered on the school field to listen to a speech,[5] Boonkwan attempted to shoot Kumsuk using a 9mm semi-automatic pistol which he had stolen from his father. His father, realizing that his weapon had been stolen, then rushed to school. He arrived before the younger Boonkwan opened fire. Upon learning of his father's arrival,[6] Anatcha Boonkwan took out the pistol and fired seven shots, but only one hit Kumsuk.[1] The others struck his other classmates. The total death toll was 2, while 4 others were injured.[7] Boonkwan was subsequently arrested by local police.[8]

Reaction

In response to the shooting, then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that the incident was a "deplorable emulation of an example set in western countries". He added that he would "work with the Education Ministry to prevent more school shootings". Friends of Kraisorn Kanchanadul, one of the two who were fatally shot, expressed their desire to "seek revenge" on Boonkwan.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: SCHOOLYARD KILLINGS: Second student dies; security beefed up . The Nation . December 18, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131227141849/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/SCHOOLYARD-KILLINGS-Second-student-dies;-security--80057.html . December 27, 2013 .
  2. News: Student opens fire, kills one, injures five after losing fight . Bangkok Post . June 7, 2003 . December 18, 2012 .
  3. News: South China Morning Post . GANGS NOT THE ONLY SCHOOLYARD KILLERS . Jason . Gagliardi . January 15, 2004 . December 18, 2012 .
  4. News: Trading of insults sparked fatal attack. . Asia Africa Intelligence Wire . June 8, 2003 . December 18, 2012 .
  5. News: The China . News Digest: School shooting . January 5, 2011 . December 18, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131003165338/http://thechina.biz/china-economy/school-shooting/ . October 3, 2013 .
  6. News: News24 . Pupil opens fire at school . June 6, 2003 . December 18, 2012 .
  7. Web site: Secondary School Incidents . K12 Academics . December 18, 2012 .
  8. News: . News In Brief . June 7, 2003 . December 18, 2012 .