- The Thai teen behind a deadly school shooting outside Bangkok had an air gun confiscated by a teacher last year and had watched violent content online, police said on Sunday, as the government promised new safety protocols for schools.
- Police said the 14-year-old boy had used social media to learn how to use a firearm, and had allegedly shot dead his grandparents at home before killing another six people at his school and then turning the gun on himself.
- According to witness interviews, the perpetrator had begun showing interest in studying the use of firearms for about one to two years, said Atthapol Anusit, deputy commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 1.
- Police had so far interviewed 17 witnesses, and a knife was found in the boy's bag; other evidence at the crime scenes included a firearm, spent cartridge cases, and a personal computer.
- After examining the PC, it was found that the child had watched social media content involving violence, but there was no evidence yet that he had practiced shooting.
- Last year a teacher had confiscated a BB gun, a type of air gun, that the boy took to school.
- The boy had lived with his grandparents for 12 years after his parents had separated.
- The Ministry of Education said it would develop new safety protocols over the next three months, including mental health screenings, a referral system for at-risk people, emergency drills, anti-bullying drives, and better detection to stop items from being taken into schools.
A Thai teenager has been identified as the shooter in a tragic incident that left six dead at a school outside Bangkok. The 14-year-old boy reportedly shot his grandparents before the school attack, using knowledge gained from violent social media content to operate a firearm.12
According to Atthapol Anusit, deputy commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 1, the boy had shown an interest in firearms for one to two years. Police investigations revealed that a knife was also found in his bag, alongside a firearm and spent cartridge cases at the crime scenes. Witness interviews indicated that the boy had been caught with a BB gun at school last year, which was confiscated by a teacher.6
The Ministry of Education has responded to the incident by promising to implement new safety protocols over the next three months. These measures will include mental health screenings, emergency response drills, and initiatives to combat bullying, aiming to prevent future tragedies. The government is also focusing on better detection systems to stop dangerous items from entering schools.8
The boy had lived with his grandparents for 12 years after his parents separated, highlighting potential underlying issues that may have contributed to this violent act.7
“The 14-year-old allegedly killed his grandparents at home before shooting six at school and himself, and had an air gun confiscated by a teacher last year. Police have interviewed 17 witnesses and found a knife, firearm, and computer in evidence.”
