Sasipat Sinsamosorn, 54, died at 2am of excessive bleeding and severe injuries to her internal organs, said Dr Wirote Yommuang, director of Hatyai Hospital.
The victim had been shot in the left side of her chest, reports the Bangkok Post. The bullet travelled to the right side and then downward, the hospital director said.
Sasipat was shot while trying to protect her students from a disturbed 17-year-old with a stolen gun at Patongprathankiriwat School yesterday afternoon. She had offered herself as a hostage in exchange for the freedom of her students, according to reports.
The late director had a master’s degree in educational administration and had been a deputy director and director of three other schools in Songkhla.
The attacker is a native of Patong subdistrict where the school is located. He had been released recently from Songkhla Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital after being treated for mental illness related to drug abuse.
Before the attack yesterday, the teen was seen behaving erratically on a hill in the community. Two patrol policemen and a village headman rushed to the scene at 2:54pm. He threatened the officers with a long knife, then ran after them, reached their patrol vehicle and stole their assault rifle.
At 4:45pm the armed youth reached the school on a motorcycle. He shot Sasipat and held some teachers and and students hostage. He reportedly demanded a meeting with a particular teacher.
The attacker’s sister, who is also a student at the school, tried to convince him to surrender. A special police task force that had been mobilised outside finally charged the attacker at 6:30pm and took him into custody.
The assailant sustained a gunshot wound in his ear. During the incident, he also shot a 14-year-old schoolgirl who underwent abdominal surgery on Wednesday evening. A 19-year-old suffered an ankle injury when she jumped from the second floor of a school building.
Patongprathankiriwat School has been closed today and tomorrow for mourning and counselling of students and staff.
The school posted a message of condolence on the passing of its director on its Facebook page, saying “although we have lost you, the memories and the goodness you left behind will remain in our hearts forever.”