A gunman killed five people and wounded two others at Bangkok’s Or Tor Kor Market on Monday before taking his own life, marking the city’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly two years. The attack occurred around 12:30 p.m. local time at the popular fresh-food market in Chatuchak district, a hub for locals and tourists adjacent to the sprawling Chatuchak Weekend Market. The victims included four security guards and one female vendor, while the two injured were women shoppers.
Police identified the gunman only as "Mr. Noi," a 42-year-old with a history of violent behavior and an obsessive attachment to his car. Investigators revealed he held a years-long grudge against security guards stemming from a 2019–2020 dispute over alleged scratches to his vehicle. Surveillance footage showed him wearing a baseball cap, military shorts, and a backpack, methodically reloading his handgun during the rampage. After the shootings, he walked to a nearby bench and died by suicide. Authorities confirmed the attack was unrelated to Thailand’s ongoing border conflict with Cambodia.
Duangnapa Yeerunsiri, who was grocery shopping during the attack, described "rapid gunfire" that sent shoppers scrambling for cover. Video footage verified by police captured bystanders ducking behind cars and stalls as the gunman moved through a parking lot and into the market. Emergency services from the Erawan Medical Center transported the injured to hospitals, where one victim underwent surgery. No tourists were harmed, though the market is a frequent stop for visitors.
While Thailand maintains strict gun laws, enforcement gaps contribute to high firearm ownership rates. This incident follows other recent mass shootings. In October 2023, a 14-year-old killed three at Bangkok’s Paragon Mall using a modified blank pistol. In October 2022, a disgruntled ex-policeman murdered 36 people, including 24 toddlers, at a nursery. Deputy Police Commissioner Charin Gopatta emphasized that investigations continue but warned such events risk damaging Thailand’s tourism-dependent economy.
National Police Chief Kitrat Phanphet ordered a rapid evidence review, including security footage, to determine full accountability.