- A 14-year-old boy in Thailand killed his two grandparents using his grandfather's handgun, then went to a secondary school in Nonthaburi province and killed five school staff, according to national police.
- The 14-year-old perpetrator also died, with a police official telling AFP he had killed himself.
- Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said police interrogated the suspect's close friend who said the suspect had been under stress related to his schooling.
- Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong pledged to provide mental health assistance to students and ramp up security measures, admitting that schools had not checked whether students brought weapons.
- A student named Purin described the shooter as a troubled kid who was interested in the FBI and guns, and noted that he was bullied by many other students.
- Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the region, with around 10 million firearms estimated to be in circulation, and past promises of tightening gun laws have not prevented repeated shootings.
A 14-year-old boy in Thailand committed a tragic shooting spree, first killing his grandparents with a handgun before attacking a school in Nonthaburi province, resulting in the deaths of five staff members and injuries to over 30 others, with nine critically hurt.1
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul revealed that the shooter was "under stress" related to his schooling, as reported by a close friend. He noted, "His actions also suggested that he had clearly planned" the assault.3
The shooter, described as "troubled" and "bullied" by peers, had a fascination with firearms and the FBI, according to a classmate. Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong announced plans to enhance mental health support for students and improve security measures at schools, acknowledging that current security protocols were insufficient: "We haven't checked whether students have brought weapons to school. Our level of security is not that tight."4
Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the region, with approximately 10 million firearms in circulation, equating to one for every seven inhabitants. Despite past promises to tighten gun laws, the country has seen repeated incidents of gun violence.67
The incident has raised urgent questions about mental health support and gun control in Thailand, as the nation grapples with the aftermath of this devastating event.
“The 14-year-old used his grandfather's handgun to kill his grandparents before shooting five school staff in Nonthaburi province, then died by suicide. Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong admitted schools hadn't checked for weapons, pledging mental health aid and tighter security.”
