VietPress USA (Feb. 8, 2020): According to The Wall Street journal, A soldier armed with military weapons went on a shooting rampage at a military facility and shopping mall in Thailand on Saturday, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens as he posted updates on Facebook.

The gunman, identified by authorities as Sgt. Maj. Jakrapanth Thomma, first opened fire at a military facility in the country’s northeast, killing at least three officers, a military spokesman said. He then proceeded to a nearby shopping mall, where he began shooting again.

Security forces entered the mall late Saturday and had evacuated many civilians who were trapped inside the Terminal 21 mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, about 150 miles northeast of Bangkok. An operation to capture the gunman was ongoing into early Sunday.

The suspect was declared a “most wanted” person and people in nearby areas were urged to remain cautious.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said 20 people were confirmed dead and 31 others were injured, citing hospital reports.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha in a tweet expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives or were injured, and said the focus was on keeping people safe.

Mass shootings are extremely rare in Thailand, though gun violence isn’t uncommon. It is legal to own a firearm with a license, and gun ownership is high compared with some neighboring countries.

Read full report from GMA on Yahoo News at: https://news.yahoo.com/suspected-thai-solider-kills-least-17-remains-large-155500098--abc-news-topstories.html

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Suspected Thai soldier kills 20, injures 31, remains at-large

Suspected Thai soldier kills 20, injures 31, remains at-large originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

At least 20 people are dead and 31 injured in Thailand, allegedly at the hands of a Thai soldier, according to police and local media outlets.

Police said the shooting took place in the Nakhon Ratchasima province and that the alleged culprit is still in the Terminal 21 mall. The situation is ongoing, according to a police spokesperson.

People in the area were advised to take caution as police say the suspect was still shooting his gun.

Thai police said they are clearing much of the mall, but have not said if the suspect has been apprehended.

Around 10:30 a.m. ET, Thai police told those who were stuck in the mall to hide in a safe place and to mute their phones.

A U.S. citizen was rescued and is unhurt, acording to preliminary information provided to U.S. law enforcement. Authorities are investigating whether the act is terrorism-related.

According to The Associated Press, the suspect allegedly shot and killed a soldier and a woman over a land dispute, police told the outlet. The total number of gunshot victims is unclear at this time.

Preliminary details shared with the U.S. say the suspect then stole a military Humvee and weapons from an Army base where several more guards were injured. The suspect then fled to the local mall and fired at shoppers inside, where he reportedly held people hostage.

The alleged shooter posted messages to Facebook during the attack before his account was taken down, according to police.

"We don't know why he did this. It appears he went mad," defense ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit said, according to Reuters.

The U.S. State Department is advising citizens in Thailand to avoid the area and to contact loved ones to check if they are safe.