School Shooting – Teen Gunman Kills Grandparents Before Deadly Attack Near Bangkok
School Shooting –A tragic shooting incident near Bangkok has left Thailand in shock after a teenage student allegedly killed his grandparents before opening fire at his school, claiming the lives of several teachers and students. Authorities are continuing their investigation as the country once again faces difficult questions over gun access and school safety.
A teenage student is believed to have carried out a deadly shooting on Friday in Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok, after allegedly killing his grandparents at home before heading to his school with a handgun. According to Thailand’s national police, the suspect used his grandfather’s firearm in both attacks. Officials said three teachers and three students were killed inside the secondary school before the suspect also died. The exact circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation.
Students and Staff Escape Amid Panic
The attack unfolded at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, where police, medical teams, and emergency personnel quickly arrived after reports of gunfire. The campus was placed under lockdown as frightened students and teachers rushed to find safety. Outside the school, anxious parents gathered to take their children home while many students and staff were seen comforting one another.
One Grade 12 student, Pawarisa Maylissa, described the frightening moments during the attack. She said she feared she would not survive and worried that her plans of studying medicine could end that day. According to her account, loud gunshots echoed through the building, and she could hear bullets striking the floor above the classroom where she had taken shelter.
Several Students Injured During Evacuation
Authorities confirmed that 15 students were injured while trying to escape the school. Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee told local broadcaster Thai PBS that none of those students suffered gunshot wounds. Instead, they sustained injuries in the chaos as they attempted to flee the building.
Police identified the suspected attacker as a teenage student enrolled at the school. Local media, citing officials, reported that the suspect was also dead. However, reports differed on whether he died by suicide or was fatally shot by responding officers. Police have not yet issued a final statement confirming those details.
Prime Minister Expresses Shock
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, saying such violence should never have occurred. Speaking to reporters at Government House in Bangkok, he questioned how such an incident could happen and extended condolences to the families affected.
Images published by Thai media showed the suspected gunman dressed in a purple school uniform and carrying a black cross-body bag. Several spent bullet casings were reportedly found at the scene as investigators collected evidence. Mental health professionals also arrived at the school to provide support to students, teachers, and grieving families.
Gun Ownership and Previous Attacks Raise Concerns
The latest tragedy has renewed public discussion about firearm access in Thailand. The country has one of Southeast Asia’s highest levels of civilian gun ownership, with an estimated 10 million firearms believed to be in circulation. Previous government commitments to strengthen gun regulations have not fully prevented violent incidents involving firearms.
Earlier this year, another teenage student carried out a shooting at a school in southern Thailand after reportedly taking a police officer’s pistol. That attack left a school principal dead and two students injured. Investigators later said the suspect had previously received psychiatric treatment before being discharged from hospital.
Thailand also witnessed one of its darkest days in 2022 when a former police officer launched a deadly attack at a childcare centre in the country’s north, killing 24 children and 12 adults. The massacre prompted renewed calls for stronger gun control measures and better mental health intervention, issues that have once again come into focus following the latest school shooting.