Reuters reported that Thai Army Commander-in-Chief Apirat Kongsompong occasionally wiped away tears at a 30-minute press conference. He said the military would help compensate all the victims and their relatives.
"As military commander, I would like to apologize and say that I regret the incident caused by a soldier," Apirat said.
"In the moment, the moment the perpetrator slashed and killed him, he became a criminal who was no longer a soldier" - he emphasized.
Captain Jakrapanth Thomma was shot and killed by security forces on February 9 after breaking into Terminal 21 shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, northeast Thailand on February 8.
The 32-year-old soldier started firing fire on February 8, killing the commander and his mother-in-law due to a dispute over land transaction commissions at the commander's mother-in-law's house.
Jakrapanth Thomma then drove back to his military base, stealing many weapons and ammunition, stealing a car and shooting passersby as he traveled to the Terminal 21 shopping mall.
General Apirat said that the army will also investigate the commanding officer murdered in this incident, Colonel Anantharot Krasnae, 48 years old, as well as the agreement that Sergeant Jakrapanth Thomma brokered for Colonel Anantharot's mother-in-law - Mrs.zing Mitchan, 63.
The commander took advantage of Lieutenant Jakrapanth Thomma in a land deal, Apirat said. In this agreement, financial commitments were broken, leading to disputes between the two sides.
The Thai military commander also said that authorities will find those involved in the incident. At the same time, he also pledged to establish a new communication line between military personnel to report issues directly to military commanders.
"I don't think any Thai people want this to happen again, so please don't blame the army or soldiers. If you still want to blame someone, you can blame General Apirat Kongsompong. I accept all criticism and all views. You can blame me because I am the commander of the army," he said.
According to Khaosod, the Thai soldier shooting incident last weekend was considered the worst mass shooting in Thailand's history, causing shock in the country as well as raising questions about whether there were appropriate business agreements between soldiers and commanders.
Thai military spokesman Winthai Suvaree said he has not seen any such regulation prohibiting business agreements between soldiers. Mr. Winthai also said that it is too early to conclude that Mr. Jakrapanth's dissatisfaction originated entirely from land transactions with the commander because more information was needed for the full investigation.
