Additional Coverage:
- Families retrieve bodies after a 14-year-old killed at least 7 in Thai school shooting (nbcnews.com)
Tragedy in Nonthaburi: 14-Year-Old Gunman Kills Seven, Including School Staff and Grandparents
Nonthaburi, Thailand – Families of the victims affected by Friday’s deadly shooting in Nonthaburi province, just northwest of Bangkok, collected the bodies of their loved ones on Saturday following a shocking incident that claimed at least seven lives.
Authorities report that a 14-year-old student at Debsirin Nonthaburi School opened fire around 10 a.m. on Friday, killing five school staff members before turning the gun on himself. Earlier that morning, the boy allegedly fatally shot his grandparents at their home.
The Health Ministry confirmed that 16 individuals remain hospitalized, with seven in critical condition. Most of the injured are students aged between 12 and 14 years old.
By early Saturday afternoon, all eight bodies-including those of the five staff members, the shooter, and his grandparents-were released from Bangkok’s Institute of Forensic Medicine. Funeral preparations are underway as the remains are transported to their hometowns.
Wiroon Supasingsiripreecha, head of the forensic institute, noted that most victims died from a single gunshot wound to vital areas such as the chest or head. The shooter’s wound matched the firearm he used, and further forensic analyses, including toxicology reports, are pending.
Officials said the compact firearm involved was legally registered to the boy’s grandfather. While some relatives mentioned that the teenager had shown signs of stress related to school, others were unaware of any difficulties he might have been facing.
In response to the tragedy, Debsirin Nonthaburi School announced a suspension of classes from August 10 to 14, with staff working remotely during this period. On Saturday, the school grounds were somber and quiet, with only a small police presence and a handful of mourners leaving flowers by the entrance.
Local resident Charin Siriananchai visited the school with his young sons to pay respects. “Everyone was saddened and shocked because it was unexpected for something like this to happen in Thailand, and it’s a great loss,” he said.
Some parents returned to collect belongings left behind by students during the chaos. One father, choosing to remain anonymous, shared that his son, present during the shooting, remains traumatized and struggles to sleep alone.
Thailand has one of Asia’s highest rates of civilian gun ownership, second only to Pakistan, with about 15.1 firearms per 100 people according to a 2017 international survey. This figure far exceeds that of neighboring countries like Malaysia. The nation experiences 3.49 firearm-related deaths per 100,000 residents, a rate that is high for Asia though lower than some regions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
While mass shootings remain rare in Thailand, recent years have seen an increase in high-profile gun violence. Earlier this year, a 17-year-old in southern Thailand stole a police firearm and launched a two-hour attack at a high school, resulting in one death and two injuries. Additionally, a 14-year-old was implicated in a 2023 shooting at a major Bangkok shopping mall.
This latest tragedy has once again brought national attention to issues of gun access and youth mental health, prompting calls for greater awareness and preventive measures.