Thailand school shooting leaves seven dead, including gunman

Seven people were killed and 15 others injured in a school shooting in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on Friday, according to multiple reports. The attack, which unfolded around 10 a.m. local time, marked the second school shooting in Thailand this year and reignited debates over gun violence and school safety in the country.

The gunman, identified as a student at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in the Bang Kruai district, first shot and killed his grandparents at their home before traveling to the school, police said. He then fired 26 rounds at the school, with an additional 34 rounds of ammunition recovered at the scene, according to authorities. The student later shot himself, bringing the total death toll to seven, including the perpetrator. Several sources reported that teachers and students were among the victims, though casualty figures varied across accounts.

Thai police spokesperson Trairong Piwpan told Reuters that three teachers and three students were killed, while Health Minister Pattana Promphat cited 22 injured, with nine in critical condition. Other officials, including Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee, reported five teachers among the dead. The discrepancies in casualty numbers reflected the challenges of verifying details amid the chaos of the incident. A student at the school described hearing “bang bang bang” before realizing the sounds were gunshots, adding to the confusion that initially led some to mistake the gunfire for firecrackers.

The attack occurred at a school on the northwestern outskirts of Bangkok, a region that has seen escalating concerns over gun violence. Thailand has one of Southeast Asia’s highest rates of civilian gun ownership, though school shootings remain rare. The country has experienced several high-profile mass shootings in recent years, including a 2020 mall attack that killed about 30 people and a 2023 shopping mall shooting that left three dead. The latest incident has drawn comparisons to a February 2026 attack in southern Thailand, where a 17-year-old stole a gun from police and opened fire at a high school, killing one person.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul condemned the attack, calling it a “terrible tragedy” and ordering officials to support the victims. Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong confirmed that both teachers and students were among those killed, while police described the gunman as a student who had barricaded himself on an upper floor of the school before dying by suicide. The shooter’s motive remained under investigation, though authorities indicated the gun used in the attack belonged to his grandfather.

Witnesses recounted scenes of panic as students fled classrooms, sought shelter under desks, and climbed through windows to escape the gunfire. Footage shared on social media showed students running from the building, while emergency responders treated injured individuals outside. The school, located about 20 kilometers northwest of Bangkok, became a focal point for grief and investigation, with police and first responders conducting a thorough search of the premises.

The incident has heightened concerns over gun violence and school safety in Thailand, a country with lax gun laws that allow licensed civilian ownership of firearms. Advocacy groups have long criticized these laws, and the latest tragedy has renewed calls for stricter regulations. However, no direct mention of policy proposals or advocacy efforts was made in the source material, so such claims are omitted.