Thai School Shooting Leaves Eight Dead Including Gunman
AM730 · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A school shooting in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, left eight people dead in total after a 14-year-old student allegedly killed his grandparents before attacking Debsirin Nonthaburi School. At the school, three teachers and three students were killed, while at least 15 people were injured and two were reported in serious condition. Police said the suspect fired 26 rounds, used a 9mm handgun believed to belong to his grandfather, and later died by suicide after locking himself inside a classroom. The attack triggered a large-scale evacuation and renewed scrutiny of Thailand's gun laws and school safety measures.
Key Points
- The shooting happened around 10am on Friday at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, a campus with about 3,100 students and 147 teachers.
- Authorities said the 14-year-old lower-secondary student first killed his grandparents at home before travelling to school and opening fire on staff and classmates.
- Police reported 26 shots were fired, and investigators recovered 34 unused bullets from the suspect's backpack after the attack ended.
- Witnesses said the gunman wore a purple tracksuit; one 18-year-old student initially mistook the repeated bangs for firecrackers or objects being struck.
- During the response, police evacuated students and staff, warned nearby residents to avoid the area, and urged the public not to spread unverified images.
Why It Matters
The attack adds to a pattern of deadly shootings in Thailand, where media reports say roughly 10 million firearms are in circulation and gun ownership is among the highest in the region. It also revives debate over whether earlier promises to tighten firearms regulation have been effective, especially after previous school and childcare massacres.