14-Year-Old Opens Fire At Thai School Killing Eight — Including His Own Grandparents

A 14-year-old student opened fire at his school on the outskirts of Bangkok this morning, killing at least eight people including himself in an attack that has shaken Thailand.

The teenager first shot and killed his grandparents at home before arriving at the prestigious Debsirin Nonthaburi school armed with his grandfather's gun, according to the BBC.

He fired at least 26 bullets, killing five teachers before turning the gun on himself. More than 30 people were injured, with nine in critical condition.

"I Thought I Was Going To Die"

The shooting began just after 10am local time. Students and teachers described hearing what they initially thought were firecrackers — then realizing it was gunfire.

"I was standing in front of my teacher when she was shot," one seventh-grade student told the BBC, still in her school uniform. "I couldn't see anything but a [cloud] of dust."

Prompong Namwong, an English teacher at the school, told The Guardian he thought he was going to die when he saw the attacker run past his classroom. "At that moment, I thought I was going to die, for sure."

Students fled the building in their socks — they'd taken their shoes off outside classrooms as is customary across Asia — leaving them strewn across lunch tables and stairs in the panic to escape.

What We Know

The attacker has not been publicly named. Police say he lived with his grandparents after his parents divorced, and both parents have been called in for questioning.

Investigators found the shooter's aim was "quite accurate," with several shots hitting vital spots, national police chief Gen Kittiratt Phanphet said.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called the attack "well prepared" with "clear steps and clear goals." The gunman still had more than 30 bullets left when he took his own life.

A lockdown at the school was lifted within half an hour as police evacuated students and staff.

The Call For Gun Control

The Debsirin School is part of a network founded by the Thai royal family and counts several prime ministers, scholars and diplomats among its alumni.

"This shouldn't have happened," Prime Minister Anutin said. "How can this happen in our country?"

Thailand has some of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia — about 40% of guns in the country are believed to be illegal, according to the BBC.

The country has seen multiple mass shootings in recent years, including a 2022 attack that killed 37 people including 22 children.

In response to today's tragedy, Anutin pledged to introduce new firearms legislation that would only allow government officials on duty to carry guns — though he provided no specifics on whether ownership requirements would be tightened.

Critics point out Thailand's licensing regime still lacks mental health screening for gun applicants and doesn't require periodic reassessments for licence holders.

"My life has to go on, but right now… it's a very great shock," teacher Prompong Namwong said. "I never thought to myself that it would happen — really happen — in my school."

This is the second school shooting in Thailand this year.

Sources:

• BBC News
• The Guardian