Police Launch Search for Suspect in Thailand Shooting that Claimed Four Lives

Thailand has a high rate of gun ownership, which has led to a steady stream of violent incidents over the past year, including one of the deadliest attacks in recent history. On Saturday, police reported that at least four people were killed in a shooting in southern Thailand, with the suspect still at large. The incident occurred in the Khiri Rat Nikhom district of Surat Thani province, approximately 600 km south of Bangkok. The shooting took place near the home of a former village head, according to local media. The head of police for the area, Kriangkrai Kraikaew, confirmed the deaths but declined to provide further details. In October, Thailand was shocked by a former police sergeant who killed 36 people, including 24 children, in Nong Bua Lam Phu province. Last month, three people were killed and three others injured in a shooting in Phetchaburi province that ended after a 15-hour standoff. Thailand’s latest shooting is yet another example of the country’s ongoing problem with gun violence.