BANG KRUAI, Thailand — A 14-year-old student killed seven people in a shooting rampage that began at his grandparents' home and continued at a school near Bangkok before fatally shooting himself, Thai police said on Friday, in the country's deadliest mass killing in nearly four years.
Police said the teenager first used his grandfather's firearm to kill his grandparents at their home before travelling to Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province, where he opened fire, killing five members of the school staff and wounding numerous others. Authorities said the suspect later turned the gun on himself and died after the attack.
Thai officials said 23 people were injured in the shooting, with nine reported to be in critical condition. Emergency services transported the wounded to nearby hospitals as police secured the school and launched an investigation into the incident. The casualty figures were provided by Thai authorities and could be updated as the situation develops.
Police said investigators recovered the handgun used in the attack, which belonged to the suspect's grandfather, along with additional ammunition. Authorities said preliminary findings indicated the teenager had experienced academic-related stress and had a history of mental health issues, though investigators said they were continuing to examine the circumstances and had not announced a definitive motive.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed condolences to the victims' families and said the government would pursue stricter gun control measures following the attack. Thailand has one of the highest rates of civilian firearm ownership in Asia and has experienced several high-profile mass shootings in recent years despite previous efforts to tighten gun regulations.
The investigation remained ongoing, and authorities said additional details would be released as they were confirmed.
