Woman killed in Chonburi kindergarten shooting

UPDATE

Teacher shot dead at Bang Lamung nursery school

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath

A 48-year-old kindergarten teacher was shot dead inside a municipal nursery school in Nong Pla Lai, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, on 9 September 2026. Police were later reported to be surrounding the nearby home of a police officer suspected of carrying out the shooting.

The victim, named as Pailin Thongthat, known as "Kru Ple", was shot once in the back of the head and died at the scene. About 50 teachers and kindergarten pupils were inside the school at the time and were evacuated after officers checked the building was safe.

Police were called to Nong Pla Lai Municipal Kindergarten School in Moo 3, Nong Pla Lai subdistrict, following a report that a woman had been seriously wounded by gunfire.

Children evacuated from school building

Pol Lt Col Manot Thipwet, a Bang Lamung police investigator, attended with Bang Lamung police chief Pol Col Sarawut Nuchnarat, investigation officers, patrol police and rescuers from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation in Pattaya.

The school is a two-storey building. Kru Ple's body was found in the ground-floor walkway outside a classroom. She was wearing a yellow polo shirt and long trousers.

Witnesses told police they heard one gunshot, but nobody initially dared to investigate. Teachers looking after the children shut classroom doors to protect pupils.

Around 20 minutes later, staff went out to check and found Kru Ple lying in a pool of blood. Police and rescue workers were then contacted.

Chon Buri Governor Naris Niramaiwong, the Bang Lamung district chief and the mayor of Nong Pla Lai Municipality also attended the scene as police sealed off the area.

Police officer named as suspected gunman

Police had not formally identified the gunman at the time of the initial report. However, investigators believed the attacker may have been Kru Ple's boyfriend, described as a police officer assigned to the Nong Ket police box patrol unit under Bang Lamung Police Station.

The suspected motive was jealousy, according to the initial police assessment.

Later reports named the suspected officer as "Muat Phong". Police were said to be surrounding his house, around three kilometres from the school, where he was believed to remain inside. He had not surrendered.

9 September 2026

UPDATE

Police still surround Bang Lamung home after school shooting

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

Police surrounded a house in Nong Pla Lai, Bang Lamung, on 9 September 2026 after a police officer was accused of shooting his teacher wife dead at a municipal nursery school. More than six hours of negotiations had passed without the suspect responding or surrendering.

Police identified the suspect as Police Sub-Lieutenant Thassapong Thongthat, known as "Oe". His wife, Pailin, 48, known as "Kru Ple", was a teacher at Nong Pla Lai Municipal Nursery School in Chonburi.

Officers from Bang Lamung police station and district administrative officials went to the house in a housing estate after receiving information that Thassapong was inside. They sealed off the surrounding area and tried to persuade him to come out peacefully.

Brother receives no reply

Chonburi's provincial tactical team made a second attempt to negotiate during the day, accompanied by the suspect's older brother, Billy.

Billy said he wanted to his brother he had to take responsibility for what had happened, particularly as he was a police officer and the shooting had taken place at a school.

He said he shouted into the house and asked Thassapong to knock on a window if he could hear him. There was no reply, although Billy said he believed his brother remained inside and had shut the house up.

Billy, himself a former police officer, said he had helped Thassapong enter the force and had raised him since childhood. He said he was worried that his brother might harm himself and urged him to surrender.

The brother said Thassapong had epilepsy, but police said they had only received preliminary information about an underlying health condition and had not established whether it was connected to the case. Billy said his brother was not normally hot-tempered and that he did not know what personal problems the couple may have had.

Police examine possible motive

Chonburi Governor Naris Niramaiwong visited the scene as police continued to prioritise negotiations, while assessing the safety of officers, nearby residents and the suspect.

Investigators were told that Thassapong and Pailin had a serious argument on 8 September. Police said a mobile phone belonging to Pailin was later examined and messages were found on it.

On the morning of 9 September, Thassapong allegedly went to the nursery school, where Pailin was shot dead, before returning to his house. CCTV footage reportedly showed him arriving home less than 20 minutes after the shooting.

9 September 2026

Your concern for the victim is good to see, rather than the Thai bashing that is bound to follow

AT least you have set the tone for others to imitate.

10/10 for your compassion, sir.

6 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

Way-to-go on the vetting process for police and army, as usual. Bet it's to do with jealousy/rejection or money... always like this. The label of fragile egos for Thai males is well deserved.

6 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

Way-to-go on the vetting process for police and army, as usual. Bet it's to do with jealousy/rejection or money... always like this. The label of fragile egos for Thai males is well deserved.

Just a poor loser, that needed to show of big time with many people around. If a police want to shoot his wife, then have the f-king courtesy to do it in home. don´t scare innocent children. This guy should have been executed at spot!

UPDATE

Bang Lamung police pause home entry after son's plea

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

Police in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, have delayed plans to enter the home of a police officer accused of fatally shooting his wife, teacher "Ple", at Nong Pla Lai Municipality Kindergarten.

The siege had entered its ninth hour on 9 September 2026 when the officer's son, Police Lance Corporal Rachat, known as "Folk", arrived from southern Thailand to try to persuade his father to surrender.

Son appeals for father to surrender

Police allowed Folk to approach the house and try to speak to his father from outside, hoping the family connection would convince him to put down his weapon and come out peacefully.

In an emotional appeal at a window, Folk called out in tears: "Dad, Folk loves you. How are you? Please come and talk at the window, Dad. Folk is begging you. Nobody is going to hurt you."

He also asked his father to trust the officers at the scene and said he wanted permission to go inside the house.

"Dad, nobody is going to hurt you. Can Folk come into the house to see you? Folk wants to hug you," he said.

Despite speaking for about 30 minutes, Folk received no reply or other sign from inside the property. Officers then asked him to leave the immediate area for his own safety.

Entry plan put on hold

Police had earlier used relatives, close acquaintances and people whom the suspect respected in attempts to open communication. However, officers were still unable to establish contact with the person inside the house.

An operation team had assembled officers and equipment to gain entry into the home. Within minutes of preparations being completed, however, an order was given to postpone the entry.

Commanders and the operational team then returned to discussions to reassess the situation and plan their next steps. Police remained deployed around the property and said the safety of everyone involved was their highest priority, as they sought to end the standoff without further loss.

10 September 2026

(Peaceful) conflict resolution needs to be taught in schools, or at least at police training in my opinion. Too often we see people finally 'pop' and go homicidal in the land of smiles. Life isn't all smiles.

UPDATE

Bang Lamung officer surrenders after school shooting

Picture courtesy of Amarin

A Bang Lamung police officer surrendered on the morning of 10 September after an overnight police siege following the fatal shooting of his wife at a nursery school in Nong Pla Lai.

Police said that Thatsaphong Thongthat, known as "Muad O", walked out of his home at about 6.20am after more than 20 hours of negotiations. He was taken immediately to Bang Lamung Police Station for questioning.

Thatsaphong, deputy inspector for crime prevention at Bang Lamung Police Station, is accused of shooting his wife, teacher "Ple", inside the Nong Pla Lai Municipal Nursery School on the morning of 9 September.

Son helps end the overnight siege

The suspect's son, Police Lance Corporal Rachat, known as "Folk", travelled back from southern Thailand after learning of the incident. He remained outside the house throughout the night and repeatedly tried to persuade his father to come out.

At about 5am, Rachat used both his mobile phone and a loudspeaker to speak to his father for more than an hour. He urged him to surrender, saying no one would harm him and asking him to trust the officers at the scene.

Rachat told his father that they had seen each other on the morning before the shooting. He said he had not yet reached his base in southern Thailand when he received the news and immediately returned to see his father.

Thatsaphong initially answered calls and spoke privately with his son, but would not leave the house. Rachat then asked to speak to him in person, with officers arranging for the two men to walk towards each other from designated points under police supervision.

Their conversation lasted around 30 minutes. Thatsaphong then emerged from the property looking exhausted and was taken into custody without further violence or injuries.

Weapon location given to police

Bang Lamung police chief Colonel Sarawut Nuchnarat said the suspect surrendered peacefully after his son's continued efforts to negotiate.

Thatsaphong was not carrying a gun when he came out. He told officers where he had left the weapon, allowing police to check the location and collect it as evidence.

Colonel Sarawut said the suspect appeared exhausted and remained under stress. Police will now follow the relevant investigative and legal procedures.

Video courtesy of SiamChon

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10 September 2026

So far, no motive published, unless it's in thai social media somewhere. At least the shooter surrendered. I didn't see it mentioned if Folk, the son, is also the son of the mother.

It's very troublesome that we are seeing an uptick in gun-related murders in schools - whether police murders or students with guns.

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