Hat yai: Patong Prathankiriwat School has closed for two days after an 18-year-old armed with a gun took students hostage. Police from the Forensic Science Center 9 have cleared the school grounds, collecting physical and forensic evidence for the case file.

According to Thai News Agency, the incident unfolded when officers stormed into Patong Prathankiriwat School in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, around 4 PM as students were preparing to leave for the day. The suspect, identified as Mr. Khemanan, shot and seriously injured Ms. Sasipatch Sinsamorn, the school principal, and a female student. A separate female student was injured after jumping from the second floor of the school building. Mr. Khemanan eventually surrendered but was shot in the ear, leading to further injuries.

Tragically, Ms. Sasipatchara Sinsamorn, the school director, succumbed to her injuries despite doctors' efforts to save her. She passed away peacefully around 2 AM. Her body is scheduled to be moved from the hospital today for funeral rites.

The 16-year-old female student who was shot in the abdomen is currently receiving treatment at Songkhla Nakarin Hospital and remains under close medical supervision. The 19-year-old student who jumped from the second floor sustained ankle injuries, but her condition is reported to have improved.

As for the suspect, Mr. Khemanan, his condition is stable but he remains in the ICU. Investigators have yet to file charges as they await his recovery and discharge. Once he is stable, they plan to proceed with charging him and bringing him before the Songkhla court. Hat Yai police have placed officers on 24-hour watch over him.

The school atmosphere remains somber as classes have been suspended for two days, from February 12-13, 2026, to allow teachers and students time to recover from the shock of the incident. Police have since cleared the school grounds and collected evidence for the ongoing investigation. Principal Sasipatch's body will be taken to Wat Yung Thong for funeral rites.

The incident began with reports of a man wielding a machete, attacking local police officers and the village headman. After injuring an officer, the suspect seized a firearm and entered the school premises. He used the weapon to threaten school staff and students, ultimately leading them to the principal's office where he committed the shootings.

The crisis concluded around 6:30 PM when a special operations unit surrounded the suspect's location, resulting in a shootout. The suspect was grazed by a bullet, leading to his surrender and subsequent apprehension by police. The motive behind the attack, reportedly linked to dissatisfaction with school staff, remains under investigation.