BANGKOK — Thailand’s death toll from a shooting spree at a school and a residence outside Bangkok has risen to nine, including the 14-year-old suspected gunman, after a 12-year-old girl died from her injuries, police said.
The attack took place on Aug. 7 at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district of Nonthaburi province, northwest of Bangkok. Police said the teenager first shot his grandparents at their home before going to the school, where he opened fire. He later died after turning the gun on himself.
Five school staff members were among those killed, while the suspect’s grandparents were also fatally shot, according to authorities. The 12-year-old girl died in hospital the following day, bringing the total number of deaths to nine. More than 30 people were injured, with several requiring hospital treatment.
Police said the handgun used in the attack was legally registered to the suspect’s grandfather. Investigators have been examining the circumstances under which the teenager obtained the weapon and what led to the shooting. Police have also interviewed teachers, classmates and other witnesses as they investigate the motive.
Investigators have said several factors may have contributed to the attack, including family circumstances, academic pressure, relationships with friends and exposure to violent material online. Authorities have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and have not identified a single definitive motive.
The shooting has renewed scrutiny of firearm access in Thailand, which has experienced several mass-casualty shootings in recent years. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered a suspension of new firearm purchase permits and said existing gun licences would be reviewed, Reuters reported.
The school suspended classes following the attack, while families gathered to retrieve victims’ bodies and arrange funerals. Authorities have continued investigating the source of the firearm, the sequence of events and the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s actions.
The government’s firearm measures and the police investigation were the latest confirmed developments as of Aug. 12.
