by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
NONTHABURI, THAILAND (Worthy News) – Thailand was shaken by gunfire on the outskirts of Bangkok, where a teenage student fatally shot at least five people at a high school shortly after killing his two grandparents in a separate incident, police and government officials said.
Friday’s shooting at Debsirin School in the Bang Kruai district of Nonthaburi province also left at least 15 people hospitalized, including two in critical condition.
The suspect, a 14-year-old boy, lived with his grandparents, who were found dead at their home, according to authorities.
After the attacks, he shot himself and later died, investigators said.
Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee confirmed to reporters at the scene that five teachers were killed and that the shooter had killed his two grandparents at home before going to the school. He added that the suspect later died.
NUMEROUS INJURED
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul offered his condolences and said he had instructed relevant officials to assist the victims and their families. Authorities said the motive remained under investigation.
A teacher at the school said the boy involved in the shooting had been regarded as “a good kid with good study records” and was not known to be aggressive, Worthy News monitored.
However, that changed Friday when a witness recalled that students initially hid inside a classroom after hearing gunfire from another building before police officers knocked on the door and escorted them safely out.
Video footage obtained by Worthy News showed anxious students hiding beneath classroom tables as a sobbing student recorded the scene.
About an hour after the shooting, grieving students, parents, and teachers gathered outside the school while police officers and first responders searched the campus. Reports that students were also among those killed could not be independently verified.
MORE SHOOTINGS
Police said the 9mm handgun used in the attack belonged to the suspect’s grandfather and that officers recovered at least 34 additional rounds of ammunition.
The incident came months after, in February, a 17-year-old allegedly stole a firearm from police and opened fire at a public high school in southern Thailand, briefly taking people hostage during a two-hour attack that killed one person and injured two others.
In 2023, another 14-year-old was accused of carrying out a shooting at a major Bangkok shopping mall.
The Debsirin School targeted Friday has branches across Thailand and is widely associated with educational prestige, Worthy News learned.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
