A 14-year-old student killed seven people — including his grandparents and five teachers — and wounded 23 others in a gun rampage at his home and at a prestigious school near Bangkok on Friday, August 7, 2026, before turning the weapon on himself. Nine of those injured remain in critical condition, authorities said.
The shooting unfolded just after 10:00 local time (03:00 GMT) at Debsirin School in Nonthaburi, a district on the outskirts of the Thai capital. According to Royal Thai Police spokesman Police Lieutenant General Trairong Phiwphan, the boy appeared to have shot his grandparents at home first before arriving at school as normal. Once class began, he opened fire inside his classroom, then walked out into the corridors and continued shooting, stalking from room to room. Every person killed at the school was a teacher or member of staff.
A Prepared and Deadly Attack
National police chief Gen. Kittiratt Phanphet told reporters that forensic officers determined the shooter’s aim was quite accurate, with several rounds striking victims in vital areas of the body. Authorities said the teen fired more than 20 shots and that over 30 rounds were found on him after he shot himself. Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul described the assault as “well prepared” with “clear steps and clear goals,” and noted the attacker still had “more than 30” bullets left on him when he took his own life. The weapon used in the attack belonged to the shooter’s grandfather, police said, and investigators have made no suggestion it was illegally obtained. Officers were later seen removing computer equipment and boxes from the home the boy had shared with his grandparents. The teen lived with them because his parents were divorced. Both parents were summoned to a local police station for questioning on Friday. Police have not publicly identified the shooter or revealed what motivated the attack, and the investigation remains active.
Chaos and Terror Inside the School
Witnesses described harrowing scenes as the attack unfolded. A female seventh grader, still dressed in her school uniform and standing with her mother outside the building, told the BBC her teacher had been speaking to her when the gunman appeared and opened fire. The student said she and other classmates climbed over the school fence to escape, and her mother said the girl told her upon being reunited: “I thought I’d never see you again.”
Another student said the initial burst of gunfire was so unexpected that he mistook the sound for firecrackers. Students and staff were seen sprinting from the campus in visible distress. Authorities issued warnings urging the public to stay clear of the area and instructing anyone still trapped inside the building to remain hidden and wait for rescue personnel. The school later posted a call for blood donations on social media, and neighboring schools suspended classes early so students could return home.
Pressure Mounts on Gun Control
Friday’s massacre is the second school shooting in Thailand this year and has sharply intensified demands for tougher firearms regulation. Thailand’s gun laws already impose penalties of up to 10 years in prison for the illegal possession of firearms, yet the country still has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia. Authorities estimate roughly 40% of guns in circulation are unregistered.
Prime minister Anutin responded to the public outcry by pledging to introduce new firearms legislation that would restrict gun-carrying rights exclusively to government officials on duty. He expressed both grief and disbelief at the tragedy. “I don’t just feel sorry for the victims but I feel sorry that this happened,” Anutin said. “How can this happen in our country?”
A School With a Storied History
The attack struck at an institution with deep roots in Thai society. Debsirin School was founded in Bangkok in 1885 and is regarded as one of the country’s premier secondary schools, with branches operating across Thailand. Its alumni include prominent diplomats, athletes and several former prime ministers. The Nonthaburi campus where the shooting occurred sits about an hour outside the capital.
The scope of the carnage — and the apparent ease with which a 14-year-old gained access to a firearm — has left the nation in mourning and lawmakers facing urgent questions about civilian gun ownership and school security. For many Thais, the images of children vaulting fences and hiding from a classmate wielding a family member’s gun have made the case for reform impossible to ignore.