Attack at Debsirin Nonthaburi School
A 14-year-old student in Thailand killed his grandparents before opening fire at his school on Friday. Police said six people died on the school campus.
The shooting took place at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district. The school is in Nonthaburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok.
The suspect attended the secondary school. A classmate described the suspect as a junior.
The teenager first shot his grandparents at the home where he lived. The grandparents were found dead at the house.
The suspect lived with his grandparents. The same home was where he lived.
The suspect then went to the school and opened fire. He shot at students and teachers.
Three students and three teachers died in the attack. The total number of deaths at the school was six.
The suspect then turned the gun on himself. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Background and Context
The attack is an uncommon school shooting in Thailand. The country has one of the highest levels of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia.
Gun-related violence is more prevalent in Thailand than in several neighbouring countries. However, school shootings remain uncommon.
Police are still working to determine the motive. The suspect is a 14-year-old student at the school.
Police Response and Investigation
Royal Thai Police spokesperson Trairong Piwpan told Channel 3 that the shooter was hospitalised in critical condition. He said the shooter had shot himself after the attack.
The police spokesperson said the motive was under investigation. The gun was believed to have been taken from a member of the student’s family.
The exact source of the weapon was not identified. The investigation is examining the weapon’s origin.
Conflicting reports have emerged about the suspect’s condition. His status could not be confirmed.
Police have questioned people connected to the suspect. This includes a close friend who spoke about the suspect’s stress.
Government Reaction
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed his condolences. He ordered officials to take care of the victims.
The prime minister called the shooting a terrible tragedy. He said it should never have happened.
“It’s a terrible tragedy. This should never have happened,” Charnvirakul said. He made the remark while speaking to reporters.
The prime minister said the teenager was under stress. The stress was related to his schooling.
Police interrogated a close friend of the suspect. The friend said the teenager had been under pressure.
The prime minister said the attack appeared to be planned. He told AFP that the suspect’s actions suggested clear planning.
“His actions also suggested that he had clearly planned the shooting,” Charnvirakul said. He described the attack as planned.
Witness Accounts
Student describes initial confusion
An 18-year-old student told Reuters that he first thought firecrackers were going off. He believed someone was banging an object.
“I didn’t think it was a gun at first,” the student said. He said the noise sounded like something being hit.
The student described hearing many shots. He said the gunfire stopped and then started again.
Another witness told reporters that students hid in a classroom. They heard gunshot sounds from another building.
Police officers later knocked on the classroom door. They helped the students evacuate.
This account was reported by The Associated Press. It provided details of the evacuation.
Classmate remembers suspect
Purin Khumchoo, a 17-year-old student, said he nearly got shot. He described the suspect as a troubled junior.
“He was my junior, but I had a feeling that he was a troubled kid,” Purin told AFP. He said his friends knew the suspect.
Purin said the suspect’s friends described him as interested in the FBI and guns. He also said the suspect was bullied by many other students.
Purin spoke outside the school after the attack. His comments were reported by AFP.
Earlier School Shooting
The latest attack came months after another school shooting in Thailand. In that earlier incident, a teacher died and a student was injured.
That shooting took place in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand in February. The new attack occurred in Nonthaburi province, which borders Bangkok.
The earlier incident involved a gunman at a school. No further details about that case were included.
Gun Ownership and Public Safety
Thailand has one of the highest levels of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia. Gun-related violence is more common than in several neighbouring countries.
School shootings remain uncommon in Thailand. The latest incident is therefore rare.
Investigation Status
The investigation into the attack is still active. Police have not announced a clear motive.
The weapon used in the shooting is believed to have come from the teenager’s family. This detail is part of the ongoing inquiry.
The suspect’s grandparents were found dead at their home. The same home was where the teenager lived.
The shooter was hospitalised in critical condition after turning the gun on himself. His current status remains uncertain because of conflicting reports.
A relative of one victim was present at Debsirin Nonthaburi School after the attack. The relative was seen at the school following the shooting.
The shooting caused panic at the school. Students waited inside classrooms until police arrived.
The investigation is continuing. Police have questioned a close friend and several witnesses.