A 14-year-old student who allegedly killed his grandparents before opening fire at his school, fatally shooting five teachers, has died after turning the gun on himself, Thai authorities have confirmed.
The teenager, identified only as a ninth-grade student at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, is believed to have carried out the attack on Friday morning after first killing his grandparents at their home.
Police say he later travelled to the school, where he opened fire shortly after 10:00 a.m. local time (03:00 GMT), triggering panic among students and staff.
Authorities said the suspect used a 9mm handgun belonging to his grandfather, who was a teacher. Investigators also recovered at least 34 rounds of ammunition from the teenager.
Following the shooting, the suspect reportedly turned the weapon on himself. He was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead while receiving treatment.
The attack left eight people dead in total—the teenager, his grandparents and five teachers—making it one of Thailand’s deadliest school shootings in recent years.
At least 15 other people were injured during the incident, including two who remain in critical condition.
Emergency responders treated victims at the scene before transporting them to nearby hospitals, while heavily armed police secured the campus and evacuated students.
The Royal Thai Police said an investigation is underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and determine the motive, which remains unclear.
Students recount terrifying moments
Survivors described scenes of horror as the gunman allegedly moved through the school targeting teachers.
An eighth-grade student, who managed to escape, told the BBC she had been speaking with a teacher moments before the shooting.
“I was standing in front of the teacher when she was shot. She was talking to me when the gunman showed up and shot her,” the visibly shaken student said.
She recalled seeing dust fill the classroom after the shots were fired, adding that she and several classmates climbed over the school fence to escape.
Another student said the first gunshots sounded like fireworks.
“I didn’t think it was a gun at first,” the student said. “There were many shots. Then it went quiet, and then it started again.”
Videos from the scene showed frightened students running from classrooms while teachers and school staff directed children to safety. Ambulances lined the school grounds as medical teams treated the injured.
Police investigate suspect’s background
Authorities say the teenager lived with his grandparents, who were found dead at their home before the school shooting.
According to investigators, the firearm used in the attack belonged to his grandfather.
Thailand’s Deputy Interior Minister said preliminary investigations indicated the suspect was an avid gamer, based on evidence gathered from his home. However, officials stressed that no conclusion has been reached regarding what motivated the attack.
A teacher familiar with the teenager described him as a quiet, well-behaved student with good academic performance and said he had never been known to display aggressive behaviour.
Investigators are examining evidence from both the school and the suspect’s home as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Grief grips school community
The shooting has devastated the Debsirin Nonthaburi School community, with emotional scenes unfolding outside the campus as parents rushed to reunite with their children.
Images from the scene showed students embracing family members, teachers comforting one another and emergency workers moving casualties from the school.
Forensic officers remained at the campus for several hours collecting evidence while police maintained a security cordon around the school.
Authorities urged the public to avoid the area to allow emergency personnel and investigators to carry out their work.
Leaders express condolences
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed sympathy for the victims and their families, describing the attack as a national tragedy.
“This is really bad. It shouldn’t have happened,” he told reporters. “I don’t just feel sorry for the victims but I feel sorry that this happened. How can this happen in our country?”
The Royal Thai Police also issued a statement expressing condolences and assuring the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted.
Fresh calls for tighter gun control
The tragedy has reignited debate over gun ownership in Thailand.
Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut called for a comprehensive review of the country’s firearm regulations, saying the attack was a stark reminder that schools should be among the safest places in society.
Although Thailand has relatively strict gun laws, the country continues to record one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia, with illegal firearms remaining widely accessible.
Friday’s shooting is the second school shooting in Thailand this year. In February, an 18-year-old gunman killed a school principal and a female student during a siege at a school in southern Thailand.
The country also continues to grapple with memories of the October 2022 massacre in Nong Bua Lamphu province, where a former police officer killed 37 people, most of them preschool children, in one of the deadliest mass shootings in Thailand’s history.
As investigations continue, the latest tragedy has once again placed school security and gun violence at the centre of national discussion, with many calling for urgent measures to prevent similar attacks in the future., adding to growing concerns over gun violence and school safety across the country.
SOURCE: BBC