Student shoots multiple people at a high school in Thailand, authorities say

A devastating high school shooting on Friday at the Debsirin Nonthaburi School on the outskirts of Bangkok has left communities across Thailand reeling from another major outbreak of gun violence. According to provincial police and national authorities, a 14-year-old ninth-grade student first shot and killed his grandparents at home using his grandfather's handgun before traveling to the campus in the Bang Kruai district of Nonthaburi province. Once at the secondary school, the teenager opened fire, discharging 26 rounds and leaving behind 34 additional rounds of ammunition. Police confirmed that the young gunman ultimately took his own life at the scene.

The human toll of the attack remains severe, though preliminary government figures have featured conflicting tallies typical of rapidly evolving mass casualty events. National police officials stated that three teachers and three students were killed at the school, bringing the total death toll to eight when combined with the two grandparents. Meanwhile, health ministry officials reported a substantial number of injuries, with Health Minister Pattana Promphat noting that 22 individuals were hurt, including nine who were listed in critical condition. Authorities cautioned that some of these injuries resulted from falls and panic as students attempted to flee or hide during the chaos, making the exact proportion of gunshot wounds initially unclear.

Witnesses inside the campus described terrifying moments of lockdown, with students barricading themselves inside classrooms while hearing gunfire echo from another building until police officers arrived to clear escape routes. The tragedy marks the second major school shooting in Thailand this year, following a February incident in the country's south where a teacher died and a student was injured.

In the wake of the shooting, political leaders and safety advocates renewed urgent calls for structural reform. Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the opposition People's Party, emphasized that the tragedy serves as another wake-up call to Thai society, arguing for a collective review of systematic gun control measures and enhanced campus security. With approximately 10 million firearms estimated to be in circulation—averaging roughly one gun for every seven inhabitants—Thailand maintains one of the highest rates of private gun ownership in the region. Despite past government promises to tighten restrictions, repeated bloodshed underscores the stark gap between policy commitments and the stark reality on the ground, leaving investigators searching for a clear motive while families mourn.