Pathum Thani, Thailand – February 18th, 2026 – Authorities have ordered the closure of 20 schools in the Lat Lum Kaeo district of Pathum Thani province today amid growing concerns over an armed suspect on the run, who is believed to be hiding in the area. The man, identified as Nopparat Jeento, 30, also known as “L,” is wanted in connection with multiple offenses, including assault and illegal use of firearms, stemming from incidents in Chonburi province near Pattaya earlier this week that we reported here.
Update: As of 4PM Bangkok time the suspect has surrendered himself to police, without incident and peacefully.
The emergency measure was announced by the Ministry of Education earlier this morning, affecting thousands of students and staff as a precautionary step to ensure public safety. While police have stated that there are no confirmed reports of direct threats to schoolchildren, unverified social media posts and local rumors about the suspect’s erratic behavior prompted the closures. “The motive appears to stem from a family conflict, and we have no evidence of threats targeting schools,” stated officers from the Lat Lum Kaeo Police Station in a clarification issued today. Despite this, local authorities, including Pathum Thani Provincial Police, have mobilized teams to scour the district and surrounding areas in an ongoing manhunt.
Jeento’s troubles began just a few days ago in Chonburi province, near Pattaya, where he allegedly fired shots at a motorway rescue vehicle in a road rage incident. According to reports from us here at The Pattaya News, the incident occurred late on February 15th, 2026, on the Bangkok-Rayong Motorway near Pattaya. Jeento, driving a truck, had parked hazardously while arguing with his female passenger, believed to be his girlfriend or wife. When rescue workers advised him to move and calm down, he reportedly pursued their vehicle and fired twice, striking the rear of the unit. He then fled on foot into nearby woods with the woman, evading immediate capture and sparking an initial search in the Chonburi area.
The situation escalated further when Jeento reportedly assaulted his wife in a domestic dispute and brandished a firearm, leading to arrest warrants from Huai Yai Police Station in Chonburi and Lat Lum Kaeo Police in Pathum Thani. Sources indicate he briefly took his father-in-law hostage before escaping again, abandoning his pickup truck in Ayutthaya province. Police believe he returned to his home district of Lat Lum Kaeo, where he has ties, prompting heightened alerts.
Local residents have expressed anxiety over the fugitive’s presence, with some schools opting for remote learning options in the interim. The district chief has reassured the community that the suspect did not enter any school premises as rumored, but the closures remain in effect until the situation is resolved. Police Col. Dusadee Hiranrat, chief of Lat Lum Kaeo Police Station, has urged the public to report any sightings of Jeento, described as potentially armed and dangerous, while advising against approaching him.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
