Shocking Revelation: Disturbing Details Surround Teen's Murder Charge in Thai Shopping Mall Shooting

Police charged the 14-year-old teen, who is suspected of killing two individuals at the luxurious Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok's vibrant commercial and tourist area, with six different offenses, including premeditated murder, according to CNN's report on Wednesday. The adolescent was apprehended just after the shooting spree on Tuesday.

A Chinese citizen and a Myanmar national died in the shooting incident, while three Thai citizens, a Chinese national, and a Laos national sustained injuries of differing severity, according to Kanchana Patarachoke, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On Wednesday, the suspect, who was in police custody at the Pathum Wan police station, was brought to a juvenile court in Bangkok to face the charges, as stated by Police Major General Nakarin Sukhonthawit.

According to Nakarin, the charges against the suspect encompass premeditated murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, unauthorized carrying of a firearm in a public area, and unauthorized discharge of a firearm in a public area. Additionally, Nakarin mentioned that the suspect is believed to have mental health problems, and a doctor has deemed him unfit for interrogation today.

Police respond to a shooting incident inside the Siam Paragon mall on October 3, in Bangkok, Thailand.

The origin of the weapon used in the shooting and the motive of the suspect remain uncertain. However, Nakarin disclosed that the suspect utilized a gun purchased online, which had been modified.

The availability of these modified guns on the internet is being investigated to determine the source of his purchase, stated Thai Police General Torsak Sukvimol on Tuesday. The suspect surrendered after the shooting and was apprehended with ammunition still in his possession.

"We can't discuss much about any personal issues the suspect may have, as he is still a youth," stated the police chief, further mentioning that the suspect has received treatment at Rajavithi Hospital for his mental health issues.

Footage captured at the site depicts frightened shoppers fleeing from the upscale mall in panic following the sound of gunshots.

I didnt want to use force

During an interview with Thai media on Wednesday, Police Captain Thanamorn Noonart stated that he was the initial officer who came face to face with the suspect within the shopping mall. He further revealed that the teen immediately discarded his own firearm upon realizing that the officers were armed with rifles.

Thanamorn stated that he had been equipped to deal with this kind of situation and had undergone active shooter training after a tragic mass shooting took place in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in 2020, where a mall was also targeted.

According to Thanamorn, the suspect was engaged in a phone conversation with a radio center that was urging him to surrender and relinquish the weapon. Thanamorn made this statement while outside the Pathum Wan police station in Bangkok.

According to Thanamorn, the officer stated that upon receiving initial information that the individual was a minor, he decided against utilizing force. However, upon spotting the police team, the suspect conveyed through the phone his intention to engage in a physical altercation by claiming that it was too late due to the presence of numerous armed individuals.

People gather outside the mall in the Thai capital.

Jack Taylor/AFP/Getty Images

Thanamorn said he brandished his rifle as police thought there was a good chance the suspect would fight back.

"He said I had to demonstrate my superior skills by displaying my rifle, so that he would understand my capabilities were greater than his." Shortly thereafter, the suspect surrendered, enabling the police to apprehend him," he further stated.

Footage captured from within the shopping center depicts the suspect kneeling with his hands in the air. Subsequently, two police officers can be observed breaking a glass door and entering a store to apprehend him.

The suspect was apprehended approximately one hour after the commencement of the shooting at around 4:20 p.m. local time (5:20 a.m. ET). Following an interrogation by the police, the suspect was subsequently transferred to a nearby hospital, stated Thai Police General Torsak during a press conference held on Tuesday.

Staff repair the glass doors of a furniture store where a 14-year-old suspect was apprehended after a shooting rampage in Bangkok.

Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty Images

A difficult time for tourism

The shooting comes at a delicate time for Thailand as it tries to woo back tourists and revive the countrys economy following pandemic restrictions.

Thailand recently introduced a visa-free policy for Chinese and Kazakh tourists, underscoring the priority placed on revitalizing its crucial tourism sector. This policy coincided with China's "Golden Week" holiday, a popular time for Chinese travelers. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, China was the leading source of tourists for Thailand, with nearly 11 million visitors in 2019, accounting for over a quarter of international arrivals worldwide.

Chinese tourists are presented with souvenirs by Thai officials at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in SAMUT PRAKARN, THAILAND on September 25, 2023, as part of a welcoming ceremony to celebrate the commencement of the government's visa-free scheme.

Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

Millions of Chinese tourists are going on holiday again. Many of them are headed for Thailand

Data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand reveals that a mere 2.2 million Chinese travelers arrived in Thailand between January and September 10 this year. Moreover, the unfortunate incident of Chinese individuals being targeted in downtown Bangkok might discourage potential tourists from choosing Thailand as their travel destination.

Reports have emerged of social media users in China expressing concerns about visiting the country due to rumors suggesting that travelers could be abducted and transferred to scam call centers in Myanmar or Cambodia. Additionally, a trending hashtag on the Chinese social platform Weibo, which roughly translates to "reasons for people's reluctance to travel to Thailand," garnered a staggering 420 million views last month.

The location of the tragic shooting incident in Bangkok is a bustling shopping and entertainment hub that is particularly favored by tourists, including those from China.

The Erawan Shrine, located close by, was the site of a horrific bombing in 2015 that resulted in the loss of 20 lives. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin extended his heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims and confirmed his communication with the Chinese ambassador to Thailand.

"I contacted the Chinese ambassador, extending my sincerest apologies for the regrettable incident. Furthermore, I assured him that the Thai government is diligently taking every possible action," Srettha informed the press on Wednesday.

"In an act of kindness and understanding, his excellency provided me with his unwavering support, emphasizing that it will not undermine the Chinese government's faith or deter Chinese tourists."

Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at the Siam Paragon shopping center in Bangkok on October 4, a day after a shooting at the mall that left two people dead.

Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty Images

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Srettha said his government would implement the "highest security measures" for the safety of tourists.

Gun ownership in Thailand is significantly higher compared to its neighboring countries. Based on the 2017 data from the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey (SAS), over 10.3 million civilians in Thailand possess firearms, amounting to approximately 15 guns per 100 individuals. Out of these firearms, about 6.2 million are legally registered, as reported by SAS.

According to the 2019 Global Burden of Disease database by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, Thailand has the second-highest number of gun homicides in Southeast Asia, following the Philippines.

However, mass shootings are infrequent in the country. In October 2022, a tragic incident took place at a child care center in northeastern Thailand, resulting in the loss of at least 36 lives due to a gun and knife attack.

The massacre in Nong Bua Lamphu province was believed to be the countrys deadliest incident of its kind.

CNNs AnneClaire Stapleton, Kara Fox and Heather Chen contributed reporting.