Thai teen kills 8 in rampage at home and school before shooting himself

A 14-year-old Thai student unleashed a deadly rampage at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, located near Bangkok, on Friday, leaving at least eight people dead and ten others injured. The perpetrator methodically shot his grandparents before targeting fellow students and staff, ultimately taking his own life. The firearm utilized belonged to his grandfather, who owned a total of 34 rounds in addition to the 26 bullets fired.

Initially, witnesses mistook the gunfire for fireworks, with one 18-year-old student remarking, "I didn't think it was a gun at first... there were many shots: bang bang bang." Lieutenant General Trairong Phophan, a police spokesman, confirmed the student as one of the deceased, while Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong stated that both teachers and pupils were among the victims.

This incident marks Thailand's deadliest mass shooting since 2022, following a former policeman's three-hour gun and knife attack in the northeast that claimed 36 lives, including 22 children at a daycare center. Gun ownership and violence have been prevalent in Thailand, with over 10.3 million firearms in civilian hands, equating to approximately 15 guns per 100 residents.

In response to the latest tragedy, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed deep sorrow for the deceased, emphasizing that such events are deeply troubling for the nation.