Jakrapanth Thomma was born on April 4, 1988, in Kaeng Khro, a district located in Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand. He grew up in a rural area where he spent much of his early life. Not much is known about his childhood, but he later enlisted in the military, aiming for a career in the Royal Thai Army.

Thomma received training as a non-commissioned officer. Over time, he became known for his skills as a marksman, which is a significant achievement within the military. He was stationed at the Suratham Phithak Military Base, where he worked alongside other soldiers. His military career seemed to be a significant part of his identity.

As an adult, Jakrapanth became involved in a business deal concerning property. This situation led to disputes with his commanding officer, Colonel Anantharot Krasae. Reports indicate that Thomma felt he was cheated out of money regarding this property deal. This feeling of betrayal was mentioned by those who knew him and is believed to have caused him great distress.

On February 8, 2020, a mass shooting took place in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The shooter, Jakrapanth Thomma, began his assault at around 3:30 PM. He first confronted his commanding officer, Colonel Anantharot Krasae, over a property dispute. He shot and killed Krasae and then shot his mother-in-law.

After the initial shootings, Thomma went to the Suratham Phithak Military Camp where he worked. He raided the military camp, stole two Type 11 assault rifles, one M60 machine gun, and 776 rounds of ammunition. During this raid, he shot and killed a soldier. Thomma then took a Humvee and injured the driver while escaping.

Next, he opened fire on the streets. He stopped outside a Buddhist temple named Wat Pa Sattha Ruam and killed eight civilians and a police officer. Thomma then arrived at the Terminal 21 Korat shopping mall. He started shooting at people outside the mall, killing twelve civilians before using a gas cylinder to create an explosion. He entered the mall and continued his attack. Inside, he killed two more people and took sixteen hostages.

Throughout the attack, Thomma live-streamed his actions on Facebook. He posted updates and photos during the shooting. Police and soldiers stormed the mall and demanded his surrender, but he responded with more gunfire, killing two more police officers and a soldier. His mother was brought in by the authorities in an attempt to persuade him to surrender.

The standoff lasted for several hours. On February 9, at approximately 9:13 AM, police announced they had shot and killed Thomma. In total, the shootings resulted in the deaths of 30 people, including the shooter, and injured 58 others. This event became the deadliest mass shooting in Thailand's history at that time.