Thailand school shooting: Teen suspect shot dead grandparents before killing others

A teenage suspect shot dead his grandparents at their home before carrying out a deadly shooting at his school in Thailand's Nonthaburi province on Friday (August 7), leaving eight people dead in a shocking attack.

According to Thai police, the 18-year-old student allegedly first used a 9mm handgun belonging to his grandfather to kill the elderly couple at their residence. He then travelled to Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, northwest of Bangkok, where he opened fire on students and teachers before dying by suicide as police closed in.

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The victims included the shooter's grandparents, three students and three teachers. Several others sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Attack at school

Police said the teenager moved through classrooms, firing indiscriminately inside the school buildings. He discharged at least 26 rounds during the attack before turning the weapon on himself on an upper floor of the campus. Investigators later recovered another 34 rounds of live ammunition from the scene.

The attack triggered panic as students fled classrooms while teachers rushed to move children to safety. Emergency responders reached the school while the shooting was still underway.

An eyewitness told the media that he initially mistook the sound of gunfire for firecrackers. "I didn't think it was a gun at first. There were many shots. Then it went quiet, before the firing started again," he said.

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While gun ownership is legal in the country, it is regulated under the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks, and Imitation of Firearms Act of 1947. Under the law, applicants must be at least 20 years old and demonstrate a legitimate reason for owning a firearm, such as self-defence, protection of property, sport shooting or hunting.

Rescuers describe operation

Emergency responder Kiatikhun Verapongpradith said rescue teams found a male teacher dead inside the school. In another classroom, a female teacher with gunshot wounds to her chest and arm was given CPR for nearly 30 minutes before being rushed to hospital, but she could not be revived.

Officials said several of the injured suffered bullet wounds to the chest, back and arms.

Thailand's Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong confirmed that both students and teachers were among those killed. Police are investigating what prompted the teenager to first kill his grandparents before attacking the school.

The school, which had around 3,100 students and 147 teachers during the 2025 academic year, was evacuated as police secured the campus. Images from the scene showed distraught students and teachers gathered outside while emergency personnel continued rescue operations.

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Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed condolences to the victims' families and directed authorities to provide all necessary assistance. Deputy Education Minister Akkharanan Kannakittinan said counselling and support would be extended to students, staff and affected families.

Second school shooting this year

Friday's incident is the second school shooting reported in Thailand this year. In February, an 18-year-old gunman stormed Patongprathankiriwat School in Songkhla province, killing a teacher, injuring several others and triggering a two-hour hostage standoff.

The latest attack adds to a series of mass shootings that have shaken Thailand in recent years, including the 2025 Bangkok market shooting that killed five people, the 2023 shooting at a luxury shopping mall in Bangkok, and the 2022 daycare centre massacre in northeastern Thailand, where 36 people, including 22 children, lost their lives.