A Thai police officer has been accused of shooting his wife to death inside the kindergarten where she worked, triggering a tense overnight standoff that ended with his surrender nearly 20 hours later.

The shooting happened Wednesday morning at Nongplalai Municipal Kindergarten in Chonburi province, about 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok.

The victim, identified in local reports as 48-year-old Pailin Thongthatch, was a kindergarten teacher at the school. Authorities said she was fatally shot inside the building while classes were underway.

44 Children Rushed to Safety
The shooting sparked panic at the kindergarten as teachers moved quickly to protect the children.

All 44 students were evacuated from the school along with three teachers and other staff members. None of the children was physically injured, although several were reportedly frightened and crying after the incident.

Authorities subsequently closed the kindergarten and arranged psychological support for students and staff affected by the shooting.

Suspect Fled to His Home
Police identified the alleged shooter as Tatsapong Thongthatch, a police officer with the nearby Bang Lamung station and the husband of the victim.

After the shooting, he reportedly fled to his home several kilometers from the kindergarten.

Police surrounded the residence and spent hours attempting to persuade him to surrender, creating an overnight standoff.

The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

Officer Eventually Surrenders
The standoff ended Thursday morning when Thongthatch surrendered to authorities.

According to reports, his son helped persuade him to leave the house. He eventually walked out without a firearm and was taken into custody for questioning. Police subsequently recovered the weapon he had reportedly left behind.

The surrender ended the prolonged police operation without further injuries.

Investigation Continues
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Pailin’s death, including the motive and events leading up to the shooting.

The incident has also renewed concerns about school safety and gun violence in Thailand, where several high-profile shootings have occurred in recent months.

For the children and teachers inside the kindergarten, however, the immediate danger ended without any students being physically harmed.