Thailand school shooting: Teen killed grandparents before murdering 3 teachers, 3 students

A teenage student allegedly killed his grandparents before launching a deadly shooting spree at a school near Bangkok on Friday, leaving eight people dead in one of Thailand's worst school shootings in recent years.

According to Thailand's national police, the teenager first used his grandfather's handgun to shoot and kill both grandparents before travelling to Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province, where he allegedly shot dead three teachers and three students.

The suspect also died following the attack, although authorities are yet to officially clarify whether the teenager was killed by police or died by suicide. Earlier reports had offered conflicting accounts of the circumstances surrounding the suspect's death.

Fifteen students were injured during the chaos, though Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said none suffered gunshot wounds. Instead, they were hurt while attempting to flee the campus as panic spread.

Police, emergency responders and mental health teams were deployed to the school as distraught parents rushed to collect their children. Students and staff were seen consoling one another outside the campus after the attack.

‘I was afraid that I would die, and I was scared that I wouldn't be able to pursue my dreams,’ Grade 12 student Pawarisa Maylissa told AFP, recalling that she heard repeated gunshots from the floor above her classroom.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul described the tragedy as "terrible" and questioned how such an incident could happen in the country.

Authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the attack, and investigations are ongoing.

Thailand has one of Southeast Asia's highest rates of civilian gun ownership, with an estimated 10 million firearms in circulation.

The country has witnessed several high-profile mass shootings in recent years despite repeated calls for stricter gun control laws.

In 2022, an ex-policeman killed 36 people, including 24 children, in a nursery attack in northeastern Thailand.

Emergency services and police rushed to the campus after reports of gunfire. Images from the scene showed students evacuating the school grounds as ambulances arrived.

One injured person was seen being taken away on a stretcher, while emergency personnel treated another victim outside the campus.

Investigators have launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, with officials yet to reveal what may have led to the attack.

According to district authorities, Debsirin Nonthaburi School had around 3,100 students and 147 teachers during the 2025 academic year.