Panya Khamrab

Panya Khamrab was born on 4 June 1988 in Nong Bua Lamphu province, Thailand. He was raised in the same region and later pursued higher education, earning a bachelor’s degree in law from Ramkhamhaeng University. Following his graduation, he attended a police academy and entered the Royal Thai Police in 2012.

During the early part of his career, Khamrab was stationed in Bangkok before being transferred back to Nong Bua Lamphu province, his place of origin. Colleagues later stated that his behavior changed significantly after his return. Reports from police supervisors and family members indicated that he struggled with substance abuse for many years, beginning as early as high school.

While serving in Nong Bua Lamphu, Khamrab displayed repeated disciplinary issues. His firearm was confiscated after he discharged it at stray animals in the presence of fellow officers. His professional relationships deteriorated, and he developed a reputation for volatility and poor impulse control.

In January 2022, Khamrab was arrested for possession of methamphetamine. Around the same time, he was reportedly receiving treatment for mental health issues. As a result of his drug-related offenses and ongoing concerns regarding his conduct, he was dismissed from the police force in either late 2021 or June 2022.

Following his dismissal, Khamrab faced increasing personal difficulties. He experienced financial instability, marital separation, and social isolation. He lived apart from his wife and stepson and was involved in repeated disputes with neighbors and acquaintances. On the morning of 6 October 2022, he attended a court hearing related to his drug charges and was scheduled to return to court the following day.

On 6 October 2022, Panya Khamrab carried out the deadliest mass murder by a single perpetrator in modern Thai history in Nong Bua Lamphu Province.

At approximately 11:24 a.m. Indochina Time, Khamrab left his residence driving a white pickup truck. Armed with a legally purchased 9mm SIG Sauer P365 pistol, a shotgun, and a knife, he traveled to the Uthai Sawan Subdistrict Administrative Organization complex in Na Klang District. The complex housed a children’s nursery attended by his stepson.

Shortly before 12:50 p.m., Khamrab began his attack by fatally shooting a man and his young son outside the administrative office near the nursery. He then entered the nursery building, where staff members had recently finished lunch. Inside, he shot and stabbed several employees, killing three, including a teacher who was eight months pregnant. Other staff members managed to flee as the attack continued.

Khamrab proceeded into a classroom where children were sleeping. Armed with a knife, he attacked the children inside. At the time, approximately 30 children were present. Nineteen boys and three girls were killed in the nursery room. Additional victims were later found in nearby buildings within the same compound.

After leaving the nursery, Khamrab fled in his pickup truck. While driving through surrounding villages and roadways, he shot multiple civilians from his vehicle. In Nong Kung Si District, he killed seven people and injured others by gunfire. He also rammed pedestrians with his vehicle, injuring at least two individuals. In Tha Uthai Nuea village, he fatally struck another resident with the truck.

Khamrab eventually returned to his home. There, he used gasoline to set his pickup truck on fire. Inside the residence, he shot and killed his wife and stepson before turning the firearm on himself, dying by suicide on the scene.

In total, 36 people were killed, including 24 children, with victims ranging in age from 3 to 69 years old. An additional 10 individuals were injured, several of whom required emergency surgery. Medical examinations determined that most fatalities resulted from a combination of gunshot wounds and stab injuries.

No illegal drugs were found in Khamrab’s system during toxicology testing conducted after his death, despite his prior history of substance abuse.