Suspect in Bangkok mall shooting that killed 2 used a modified blank-firing handgun, police say

By JERRY HARMER and JUTARAT SKULPICHETRAT
Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — Police say a teenage boy who allegedly shot two people dead and wounded five others inside a major shopping mall in Thailand’s capital used a blank-firing handgun that had been modified to fire real bullets. Video broadcast on television showed a long-haired teenage boy in the custody of police. Officials say a Chinese citizen and Myanmar citizen were killed in Tuesday’s attack. Five others were hospitalized: one from China, one from Laos and three Thais. Several are in critical condition. Gun violence is not uncommon in Thailand, though mass shootings are rare. Thai official are concerned that the incident could damage the tourism sector, especially the key market of Chinese visitors.