Thai pupil describes harrowing moment teacher was shot in front of her

On Friday morning, students left a prestigious school near Bangkok as classes concluded. Police report that a 14-year-old boy had opened fire inside the school. A seventh grader, standing near the gates, recounted to the BBC being in front of the teacher when she was shot. The shooter, still in uniform, stalked through rooms, killing five teachers and injuring 23 others before taking his own life.

Authorities believe he had a personal connection to his grandmother, who was also a teacher. One student described the shooter as a good student with good grades, though police have not disclosed a motive. The teenager had to climb over the school fence to escape with friends, fearing for their lives. The 18-year-old student who provided details to Reuters initially thought the sounds were firecrackers.

Rescue workers found victims with gunshot wounds, some in vital spots. The Prime Minister suggested study pressures may have contributed to the incident. Gun ownership in Thailand is high, with over seven million owners, including many unlicensed. This is Thailand's deadliest mass shooting in recent years and the second at a school this year. Gun control remains a contentious issue in the country.