Loei school shooting threat shuts down classes for a day

A shooting scare at Loei Pittayakom School in Thailand forced classes to move online for a day on August 14. The incident originated from anger over an illegal police stop, not a planned attack, according to investigators. A friend of an 8th-grade student alerted a teacher about chat messages suggesting the student intended to carry out a shooting on campus.

Parents were informed that classes would be online until the situation stabilized. Security personnel patrolled the school gates while lessons continued remotely. The school's administration met with relevant authorities to review security measures. The weapon mentioned in the student's messages was an air pistol, not a real firearm.

The student was questioned but no charges were filed. The incident stemmed from a previous encounter with police, which the student had retaliated against with a joke about shooting the officer. The student had no prior concerning behavior and his administration team visited his home after the messages were discovered. The student had previously been disciplined for bringing a realistic toy gun to school and showed an interest in firearms.

The school plans to meet with the student and his parents for closer supervision. This event follows a recent nationwide shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, where a 14-year-old student killed family members and staff before taking his own life. The Thai government has since tightened school security and suspended firearm license issuance.