A tragic shooting occurred at a high school near Bangkok on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals and injuries to over 20 others. Authorities reported that a 14-year-old student was responsible for the attack, which took place at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province.
According to Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee, the incident began with the student allegedly killing his grandparents at their shared residence earlier that morning. The shooter took his own life at the school, where five staff members, including teachers and administrators, were killed around 10 a.m.
Local medical facilities, such as Bangyai Hospital, which is approximately three miles from the school, treated 23 wounded individuals. Of these, 10 were in critical condition, primarily suffering from gunshot wounds. Initial reports varied on the number of casualties.
Eyewitness accounts described the horror as students sought safety, sheltering in classrooms while hearing gunshots from another building. Police eventually provided an escape route, allowing students to exit safely. Amporn Niamfuang, a restaurant owner nearby, recounted hearing gunfire and witnessing students fleeing into the streets.
“Students were running scared and pouring onto the street. Young girls were holding each other’s hands and crying. I went inside to hide,” Amporn said.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed the shooter’s age and his subsequent suicide. He noted the shooter’s stress related to school matters. The gun used in the incident was legally registered to the shooter’s grandfather. Thailand’s gun ownership rates are high in Asia, with civilian gun ownership at roughly 15.1 guns per 100 people in 2017, compared to less than one per 100 in neighboring Malaysia.