What to Know About Thailand's Deadliest School Shooting in Years — Time

RESOLVING THE LEDGER

What to Know About Thailand's Deadliest School Shooting in Years — Time | AIPROPX

A person close to one of the victims reacts following a shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, Thailand, on August 7, 2026. —Valeria Mongelli—Anadolu/Getty Images

A teenage boy in Thailand shot and killed at least seven people and wounded more than 20 others on Friday before taking his own life in the country’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly four years.

The 14-year-old suspect, whose name authorities have not released because he was a minor, fatally shot his grandparents, with whom he lived, before going to his high school, the Debsirin Nonthaburi School outside of the capital of Bangkok, and opening fire, resulting in the deaths of at least five teachers and staff, according to Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who spoke before reporters Friday evening. No students were killed in the shooting.

More than 20 people were wounded and nine remained in critical condition following the shooting.

Video from inside the school shows students seeking shelter beneath tables in a classroom, tables overturned and stacked, and bullet shells on the floor. Other footage taken outside the school show people embracing next to a fleet of medical personnel and police on site.

One student told the BBC that she was standing in front of one teacher when the teacher was shot. “She was talking to me when [the gunman] showed up and shot her," the student recalled.

Anutin warned that the shooting could have been much worse, noting that the suspect had more than 30 rounds of ammunition remaining when he turned the gun on himself.

The Prime Minister said that the suspect appeared to have been stressed over his studies

“We have learned from interviews with one of his close friends that he had been under stress and had complained about pressure over his studies,” Anutin told reporters. “His grandmother was a teacher and wanted him to do well academically, so she was reportedly quite strict with him.”

Anutin added that the suspect had a “clear course of action and specific targets.”

Police said that the suspect had also searched for websites on mass shootings before the attack and that the gun belonged to his grandfather and had been registered.

The suspect's father told CNN that he does not know why his son might have carried out the shooting.

“My son was guilty … he hurt people,” the father told the network. “I have nothing more to say. But I still don’t know why he did that.” He added that he had not witnessed “any sign of violence” from his son. “I still don’t know why he had to kill his own grandfather and grandmother,” he said.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Thai officials are moving to implement new safety measures.

Anutin said that a “new law will only allow government officials on duty to carry guns.” He did not provide further details.

The Thai Ministry of Education said in a statement that “following this incident, security measures at schools will be significantly strengthened.” It added that “enhanced school security and measures to protect students” would be discussed, and announced financial assistance including 20,000 Thai Baht ($600) for families of the deceased victims, and 5,000 Thai Baht ($150) for the people who were injured.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat also said on Friday that a mental health action plan would be announced to support teachers and students.

Thailand has one of the highest civilian gun ownership rates in Southeast Asia and has had several mass shootings in recent years, prompting calls for stricter firearm controls.

In 2022, a former police officer killed more than 30 people , most of them children, using guns and a knife in northeast Thailand at a children’s daycare center. A year later in 2023 , a teenager fatally shot two people at a shopping mall in downtown Bangkok.