A disturbing history of weapons interest and online activity has intensified scrutiny of how schools identify risks before violence occurs.
BANGKOK, August 9 – The Thai teenager accused of carrying out a deadly shooting near Bangkok had previously come to attention after a teacher confiscated an air gun from him last year, and he had also watched violent content online, police said. The government has promised to introduce new school safety protocols.
Following an investigation into Friday’s incident, the 14-year-old allegedly shot and killed his grandparents at home and then six more people at school before taking his own life. Police also said the boy had used social media to learn how to handle firearms.
Witness testimony indicated that the suspect had shown an interest in learning how to use firearms for one or two years.
– Atthapol Anusit
According to Atthapol Anusit, deputy commissioner of Regional Police Bureau 1, 17 witnesses were questioned during the investigation. A knife was also found in the boy’s backpack, while firearms, shell casings and a personal computer were recovered at the crime scenes.
An examination of the computer found that the child had viewed violent content on social media.
– Atthapol Anusit
It was also reported that a teacher confiscated a BB gun the boy brought to school last year. According to investigators, the boy had lived with his grandparents for 12 years following his parents’ divorce.
The Education Ministry said new safety protocols would be developed over the next three months. They will include mental health screenings, a referral system for specialists, emergency response training, active measures to combat bullying and improved detection of materials that should not be brought into schools.
More than 20 people were injured in addition to those killed, making it Thailand’s largest shooting since 2022 and reigniting debate over gun control in Southeast Asia’s most heavily armed country.