Armed suspect surrenders after two-day manhunt

An armed fugitive, wanted in connection with opening fire on a rescue vehicle and taking his father-in-law hostage, surrendered today in Pathum Thani province.

His actions had led to the closure of at least 20 schools in Pathum Thani and neighbouring Nonthaburi provinces, as he was believed to be armed and his whereabouts were unknown.

The suspect, identified only as ‘Nopparat’, surrendered this afternoon to retired Bangkok police chief Lt Gen Kamronwit Toopgrajank, who is now a senior politician in Pathum Thani.

The suspect allegedly opened fire on rescue workers who had stopped to inspect his pickup truck, which was parked in an emergency lane, shortly before midnight on February 15, on Highway 7.

He allegedly fired two shots at the rescue vehicle, damaging its tyres, before fleeing into nearby woodland.

Police later found a large quantity of fresh kratom leaves inside the truck. The suspect’s wife managed to escape unharmed.

At around 2am on February 17, the man allegedly returned to his home in Lat Lum Kaeo district of Pathum Thani and forced his father-in-law into a vehicle in an attempt to pressure his wife to meet him.

The father-in-law later escaped by jumping from the vehicle when it slowed down.

Police searched the house later that morning, but the suspect escaped through a window while carrying a firearm.

Authorities have stressed that the case stems from a domestic conflict and that there is no evidence of any plan to attack schools, countering rumours circulating on social media. No injuries have been reported.

Nevertheless, as a precaution, at least 20 schools ordered an emergency one-day closure today to ensure the safety of students and staff.

The decision followed last week’s shooting at a school in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, in which a teenage gunman killed a school director and injured several students.