A 14-year-old student opened fire at a secondary school in Thailand on Friday, killing at least six people before fatally shooting himself, according to local authorities. The incident occurred at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok, a school with approximately 3,000 pupils.
Shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School
Emergency services rushed to the scene as terrified students were evacuated from classrooms. Dramatic footage showed children fleeing the school grounds while staff attempted to guide them to safety. Thailand's Poh Teck Tung Foundation reported that officers were 'urgently evacuating students from the area' as the situation unfolded.
Lt. Col. Dechrapee Kongdee, the Nonthaburi Provincial Police Commander, confirmed the casualties to Reuters and stated that the suspected gunman had committed suicide. The motive for the shooting has not yet been established, and police have launched an investigation.
Eyewitness Account and Response
An 18-year-old student recounted the harrowing experience, saying he initially thought the sounds were firecrackers or someone banging an object. '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.'
Photos circulated by emergency workers showed students streaming out of the school, located on the northwestern outskirts of Bangkok, as ambulances arrived. In one image, a person lay on a stretcher outside an ambulance, while another received medical attention from a medic. In the 2025 academic year, the school had an enrollment of around 3,100 students and 147 teachers, according to district authorities.
Context of Gun Violence in Thailand
This tragic event follows another fatal school shooting in February, when a teacher was killed and a student injured after a gunman opened fire at a school in Hat Yai, southern Thailand. School shootings are relatively rare in Thailand, although the country has one of the highest levels of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia.
According to the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey, there are more than 10 million civilian-owned firearms in Thailand, equivalent to around 15 guns for every 100 people. In 2022, Thailand experienced its deadliest mass shooting when 36 people, including 24 children, were killed at a childcare centre in Nong Bua Lamphu.
The investigation into Friday's shooting is ongoing, and authorities have not yet released the names of the victims. The community is in shock as they grapple with the loss of life and the trauma inflicted on students and staff.
