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Grieving relatives retrieved the bodies of victims Saturday following a mass shooting the previous day at a school and residential property in Nonthaburi province, northwest of Bangkok. The assailant, a 14-year-old student, opened fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School around 10 a.m. Friday before ending his own life, officials confirmed.
Authorities determined the teenager had also fatally shot his two grandparents at their family residence earlier that morning. By late Saturday afternoon, eight bodies—five school employees, the alleged shooter, and his grandparents—had been transported from Bangkok’s Institute of Forensic Medicine to their hometowns for funeral arrangements.
The Health Ministry reported that 16 people remain hospitalized, seven in critical condition. Most of the wounded were students aged 12 to 14 years old. Institute head Wiroon Supasingsiripreecha stated that the majority of victims sustained single fatal gunshot wounds to vital organs including the chest and head.
The weapon, characterized as small and compact, had been legally registered to the boy’s grandfather. While some reports indicated the teenager had experienced school-related stress, certain family members told Thai media they were unaware of any difficulties he faced.
The school suspended all classes from August 10 through August 14, with staff directed to work remotely. By Saturday morning, only minimal police presence remained at the entrance as mourners placed flowers at the gate.
Thailand ranks second only to Pakistan in Asia for civilian gun ownership, with 15.1 firearms per 100 people according to 2017 data. The nation recorded 3.49 firearm deaths per 100,000 people in 2023, the second-highest rate in Southeast Asia behind the Philippines.
Mass shooting incidents remain relatively uncommon in Thailand, though the country has experienced rising incidents of high-profile shooting deaths recently. A 17-year-old stole a police weapon in February and attacked a southern high school, killing one person and wounding two others during a two-hour standoff. A 14-year-old was also accused of a 2023 shooting at a major Bangkok shopping mall.
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