A 14-year-old boy accused of carrying out a deadly shooting at a high school in Thailand allegedly killed his two grandparents at home before heading to school, where he opened fire and killed five school staff members.
The shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province, north-west of Bangkok, happened at around 10am on Friday (Aug. 7), according to officials.
The teenager later died from a gunshot wound, bringing the total death toll to at least seven victims, excluding the boy. His two grandparents were reportedly found dead at their home after police searched the property.
Sixteen people were still hospitalised on Saturday, with seven reportedly in critical condition. Most of those injured were aged between 12 and 14.
Father Says Boy Never Showed Violent Behaviour
The teenager’s father told CNN that his son had never previously displayed violent behaviour.
According to his father, the boy enjoyed playing with pet birds and soccer and had not appeared to be someone who would carry out such an attack.
However, investigators are now examining the teenager’s background and digital devices as they try to establish what may have led to the shooting.
Police reportedly seized computers and other electronic devices from the boy’s home.
Authorities said their preliminary investigation suggested that the teenager had been searching online for information about previous mass killings.
There were also reports that the boy had experienced stress related to school, although relatives told Thai media that they were not aware of serious problems he may have been facing.
Police Find Grandparents Dead At Home
The investigation took an even darker turn when police went to the teenager’s home following the school shooting.
His two grandparents were found dead inside the property, with officials believing they had been shot earlier that morning.
The weapon used in the attack was reportedly a small, compact firearm that had been legally registered to the boy’s grandfather.
Officials said the gunshot wound suffered by the teenager was consistent with the weapon.
Forensic authorities were continuing to investigate, with more detailed findings, including toxicology results, expected later.
Thailand’s prime minister, who visited the school several hours after the shooting, said the teenager appeared to have shot himself after the attack.
Officials also reportedly found 30 unused rounds of ammunition with the boy.
The discovery raised concerns over how much worse the attack could potentially have been had the ammunition been used.
Five School Staff Among Those Killed
The five people killed at the school were members of the school’s staff.
Forensic officials said most of the victims had suffered a single fatal gunshot wound to a vital part of the body, including the head or chest.
The bodies of the five school staff members, the teenager and his two grandparents were collected from Bangkok’s Institute of Forensic Medicine on Saturday.
Families and relatives subsequently retrieved the bodies for funeral arrangements.
The school has announced that classes will be suspended from Aug. 10 to Aug. 14, while staff members have been instructed to work from home.
The normally busy school entrance was reportedly quiet on Saturday, with only a small police presence.
Mourners placed flowers outside the school as the community struggled to come to terms with the attack.
Parents Fear For Children After Shock Attack
The shooting has left students and parents deeply shaken.
Some parents visited the school to collect belongings left behind by their children during the incident.
One father said his son, who was inside the school during the shooting, remained traumatised and was unable to sleep alone.
Another local resident, Charin Siriananchai, brought his two young sons, aged nine and six, to lay flowers at the school despite neither child attending the school.
He said he lived nearby and regularly drove past the school, sometimes stopping to allow students to cross the road.
The attack has shocked many in Thailand because indiscriminate school shootings remain relatively uncommon, despite the country’s comparatively high level of civilian gun ownership.
Thailand has experienced several high-profile shootings in recent years, including a 2023 shopping mall shooting in Bangkok involving a 14-year-old suspect.
In February 2026, a 17-year-old allegedly stole a firearm from police and opened fire at a public high school in southern Thailand. The incident reportedly involved a hostage situation and left one person dead and two others injured.
The latest tragedy has once again raised concerns about firearm access, school safety and the warning signs that may precede violent attacks involving young people.
Investigators are continuing to examine the teenager’s movements, family circumstances, school life and online activity as they work to determine what happened in the hours leading up to the shooting.