Thai soldier killed after shooting dead at least 21 people in shopping mall

Lieutenant General Thanya Kiatsarn, commander of Thailand's 2nd Army Region, announced the shooter was dead on Sunday morning.

The circumstances of his death are unconfirmed at this stage.

The standoff began on Saturday after the shooter started firing first at a military site and then at the Terminal 21 shopping mall in Thailand's northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province, known as Korat.

Frantic scenes from the mall overnight showed heavily armed Thai soldiers trying to shepherd terrified shoppers out to safety.

News footage from the scene showed people leaving the area in pickup trucks and cars as security forces surrounded the mall.

Thai authorities said the shooter was believed to be Army Sub. Lt. Jakrapanth Thomma, an ammunition battalion officer working for the 22nd Ammunition Battalion, defense ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Kongcheep Tantravanich said.

"In general, any military (officer) would be good at guns, but this man certainly has more skills," he said.

The gunman's motive wasn't immediately clear, military officials said.

This is a developing story. More to follow ...

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