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 corridor 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
