A 14-year-old boy opened fire at a secondary school in Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok, on Friday, August 7, 2026, killing at least six people and wounding more than 20 others. The suspect allegedly killed his grandparents at their home before storming the school with his grandfather's handgun.
The shooting occurred at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, a well-known institution with about 3,000 students situated along a busy highway in the Bang Kruai district. Police spokesperson Lieutenant General Trairong Phiwphan confirmed that three students and three teachers were among the dead. More than 20 people were wounded, with nine in critical condition. The youngest victim was 12 years old, and most casualties were teenagers aged 12 to 17, according to the provincial Emergency Operations Centre.
Chaos and panic at the school
CNN footage captured terrified students crouching under desks, sobbing as gunshots rang out nearby, while other video showed students fleeing the building as a staff member guided them to safety. An unnamed rescue worker told Reuters that "it was total chaos" on arrival, with students needing first aid for wounds to their back, chest, and arms.
The suspect used what police described as his grandfather's handgun. Authorities said the boy had been living with his grandparents rather than his parents, but investigators had not yet established how he gained access to the firearm.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul responded to the incident on Friday afternoon, saying: "This is horrible, it shouldn't have happened."
An 18-year-old student told Reuters he initially mistook the sounds for firecrackers. "Then it started getting more frequent, like 'bang, bang, bang' and then it went quiet at one point. And the shooting started again," the student said.
Gunman in critical condition
Early reports suggested the suspect had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but Lieutenant General Trairong later confirmed he remained alive in critical condition and was receiving emergency treatment. Emergency worker Kiatikhun Verapongpradith told Reuters that his team found the suspect had "shot himself in the right side of the head and collapsed," and that they performed CPR after spotting signs of life before transporting him to hospital.
Gun ownership context
Gun ownership in Thailand is among the highest in Southeast Asia. According to 2017 data from the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey, more than 10.3 million civilian-owned firearms existed in the country, roughly 15 guns per 100 people. Thailand ranks second in the region for gun homicides after the Philippines, per the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation's 2019 Global Burden of Disease database, The Guardian reported.
The country has faced previous incidents of gun violence at schools. In February 2026, a teacher died and a student was injured in Hat Yai district after a school shooting. In 2022, 36 people, including 24 children, were killed at a childcare centre in the country's northeast.
Regional and global context
This attack is one of the deadliest school shootings in Thailand in recent years, highlighting the persistent issue of gun violence in the region. The incident has reignited debates about gun control and school safety in Thailand, with authorities vowing to investigate how a minor obtained access to a firearm and to review security measures at educational institutions.
The tragedy also echoes similar incidents globally, underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies to prevent such violence. As the community mourns, questions remain about the psychological state of the young perpetrator and the societal factors that may have contributed to this devastating act.
