PUBLISHED : 8 Feb 2024 at 17:49
MAHA SARAKHAM: Police tried to persuade a gunman to surrender after he had earlier released hostages, including his ex-girlfriend, at a school in this northeastern province on Thursday.
The man, in his 30s, entered Khaothung School in tambon Pan An of Phayakkhaphum Phisai district around noon, police said.
Witnesses reported that the man had a conversation with his former girlfriend, who is a teacher, at the school. The meeting happened about two months after their breakup.
A quarrel ensued, leading the man to leave the teacher’s room and fire a gunshot into the air.
Other teachers told about 140 students to take cover and only the woman teacher was left in her room.
About an hour later, police managed to convince the gunman to release all students and teachers, including his ex-girlfriend.
However, despite hours of negotiation by police and his relatives, the man, originally from Buri Ram’s Satuk district, remained on the second floor of the school, firing his gun and adamantly refusing to surrender.
Khaothung is a school catering to kindergarteners, pupils and junior secondary school students.