At least 6 dead in Thailand school shooting after student kills grandparents, self
At least six people were killed when a student opened fire at a school in Thailand before police say the gunman took his own life Friday. Police also say 15 others were injured, including two victims who remain in critical condition.
Police say the student first shot and killed his grandparents at their home in in Nonthaburi province, which is northwest of Bangkok, before driving to Debsirin Nonthaburi School. They say he then shot and killed three teachers and three students before taking his own life.
Investigators said in a statement that the shooter fired 26 rounds and officers recovered 34 additional rounds of ammunition at the scene. Authorities believe the gun used in the attack belonged to a member of the shooter’s family.
One witness told reporters students hid inside a classroom while they heard gunshots from another building before police knocked on the door and cleared a way for them to leave the building, according to The Associated Press.
An 18-year-old student told Reuters that he thought he was hearing firecrackers when the shooting started.
“I didn’t think it was a gun at first,” he said. “There were many shots: bang, bang, bang. Then it went quiet. Then it started again.”
The motive remains under investigation.
Second shooting this year
The attack is being described as Thailand’s worst school shooting in years and it’s the second in the country this year.
In February, a 17-year-old stole a gun from police and opened fire at a public high school in southern Thailand. It led to a two-hour hostage situation and left one person dead while two others were injured.
In 2023, a 14-year-old boy was accused of a shooting at a major Bangkok shopping mall, according to AP.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
