Accused Thai school shooter had watched violent content online, police say

A 14-year-old boy opened fire at his school near Bangkok, Thailand, on August 7, killing six people and injuring more than 20 others. Police say he first shot and killed his grandparents at home before going to the school. The boy later turned the gun on himself. It was one of the deadliest school shootings Thailand has ever seen.

Police said the boy had been watching violent videos on social media for one to two years before the attack. They found this out after looking through his personal computer. "After examining the PC, it was found that the child had watched social media content involving violence," said Atthapol Anusit, a senior police official. Officers also found a knife in the boy's bag, along with a firearm and used bullet casings at the scene.

Investigators say the boy had shown signs of interest in guns well before the shooting. Back in 2025, a teacher at his school had taken away a BB gun — a type of air-powered gun — that he had brought to school. Police interviewed 17 witnesses to piece together what happened. They said there was no proof yet that the boy had practiced shooting before the attack.

The boy had been living with his grandparents for 12 years, ever since his parents separated. Atthapol said this background was part of what police were looking into. Flowers and photos of teachers who were killed were left outside Debsirin Nonthaburi School after the shooting. People across Thailand mourned the lives that were lost.

Thailand's Ministry of Education quickly promised to make schools safer. Over the next three months, the government plans to add mental health checkups for students and a way to connect at-risk young people with specialists. Schools will also run emergency drills, work harder to stop bullying, and add better security to keep dangerous items off school grounds. Officials hope these steps will help prevent another tragedy like this one.

The shooting sparked a wider conversation about gun safety in Thailand. The country has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Southeast Asia. This attack was the deadliest mass shooting in Thailand since 2022. Many people are now calling on the government to take a closer look at how guns are bought, owned, and kept safe across the country.