BANGKOK – Siam Paragon, a high-end shopping mall in the heart of Bangkok, became the latest scene of deadly violence on Tuesday as a 14-year-old suspect opened fire, killing two and injuring five others. The incident has once again brought to light the ongoing struggle of gun control and mental health awareness in Thailand.
The shooter, dressed in all black with a camouflage cap and a US flag, was identified as a student at a nearby high school with a history of mental health problems. According to the police chief, the teen was also addicted to violent video games, including the popular Call of Duty series.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots and chaos erupted as people fled the premises in fear. The suspect, feeling threatened by an unknown person, pulled out a Glock 19 9 mm pistol and started firing While initial reports indicated three casualties, authorities later confirmed the death of two individuals – a Chinese woman and a Burmese man.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed his concern for public safety and ordered an investigation into the shooting. This incident comes just days before the first anniversary of one of the deadliest days in Thailand’s recent history, when a former policeman killed 24 children and 12 adults at a kindergarten in a northeastern province.
Thailand, ranking second in Southeast Asia for the number of homicides involving firearms, is facing a pressing issue in terms of gun control and mental health awareness. As the country mourns for the victims and their families, this latest shooting serves as a wake-up call for the nation to address these pressing issues and the need for better mental health support for individuals in the country.
With information from Internacional