Thailand school shooting death toll rises to eight as 12-year-old girl dies

Bangkok, August 9 - The death toll from a school shooting in Thailand has risen to eight after a 12-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries, according to the health ministry. The assailant, a 14-year-old boy, had previously killed his grandparents at their home before embarking on a shooting spree at his school north of Bangkok, ultimately taking his own life.

The girl, who had been hospitalized, has now passed away, the ministry announced. Other victims included a mathematics teacher, a psychology teacher, and other school staff members. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reported that more than 30 individuals sustained injuries during the attack. As of Saturday evening, 14 people remained hospitalized, with seven in critical condition.

Police are interviewing additional witnesses, including the suspect's parents, to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy. Thailand possesses one of the highest gun ownership rates in the region, with an estimated 10 million firearms in circulation, roughly one for every seven inhabitants. Despite previous pledges to tighten gun regulations, repeated shootings have continued to occur.

In February, a teenager opened fire at a school in southern Thailand, killing the principal and injuring two students with a weapon seized from a police officer. In 2022, an ex-officer armed with a gun and a knife attacked a nursery in northern Thailand, killing 24 children and 12 adults, one of the country's deadliest massacres.