The man who opened fire at a children’s day-care centre in a northeastern province of Thailand on Thursday has been identified by authorities as Panya Kamrab. 

The shooting took place in Nong Bua Lamphu, in the north-east of the country. At least 31 people, including 23 children, were killed, AFP news agency reported. 

Kamrab, a 34-year-old former police officer, fled the scene in a white-four door Toyota pick-up truck with Bangkok registration plates, sparking a manhunt. 

He then reportedly returned home and killed himself, his wife and his child, Channel News Asia reported, quoting the Central Investigation Bureau. 

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The gunman was fired from his position in 2021 due to drug-related charges, according to Col. Natthawat Wongsanittheera of Na Want Police, Coconuts reported. He was supposed to appear in court on Thursday in connection with the case. 

Around 12.30 pm local time on Thursday, he entered the nursery, armed with a shotgun, a pistol and a knife. 

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Responding officers found the bodies of adults and children lying inside and outside the building.

“After inspecting the crime scene, we found that the perpetrator tried to break in and he mainly used a knife to commit the crime by killing a number of small children,” said Police Chief Damrongsak Kittiprapat, BBC reported. 

“Then he got out and started killing anyone he met along the way with a gun or the knife until he got home. We surrounded the house and then found that he committed suicide in his home.

Headteacher Nanticha Panchum said Kamrab’s child attended the centre but had not been there for over a month. She added that Kamrab used to drop his child off every day. He called him polite and chatty.