An adolescent boy linked to a fatal school shooting near Bangkok last year had an air gun confiscated by police, who disclosed the discovery as the Thai government vowed to implement enhanced safety measures within schools. The teenager had engaged with violent online content and utilized social media to acquire knowledge on firearm usage, law enforcement reported.
Charges were filed against the boy for the murders of his grandparents at home prior to shooting six others at his school before taking his own life. The death toll reached at least nine, including a 12-year-old who succumbed to injuries in the hospital. The mother of the youth has now spoken out about the tragic aftermath of the shootings.
Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 1, Atthapol Anusit, informed journalists that witnesses observed the perpetrator’s interest in firearms for about one to two years. Police investigations, involving interviews with 17 witnesses, uncovered a knife in the boy’s possession, along with evidence such as a firearm, spent cartridges, and a personal computer at the crime scenes.
“After examining the PC, it was discovered that the child had viewed violent content on social media,” stated the deputy commissioner, clarifying that there was no evidence of him practicing shooting. Additionally, it was revealed that a BB gun, a type of air gun, was confiscated by a teacher from the boy at school the previous year. The boy had resided with his grandparents for 12 years following his parents’ separation.
The Ministry of Education announced plans to develop new safety procedures over the coming three months, including mental health assessments, referral systems for at-risk individuals, emergency response drills, anti-bullying initiatives, and improved security measures to prevent unauthorized items from entering schools.
In addition to the fatalities, over 20 individuals sustained injuries in Thailand’s deadliest mass shooting since 2022, sparking renewed discussions on gun control in Southeast Asia’s largest firearm-owning nation.
The accused boy’s mother disclosed that she had last seen him during a recent school break. She expressed shock upon learning of his involvement in the incident and attempted to contact him promptly upon hearing about the shooting. Apologizing on his behalf, she conveyed deep sorrow over the unforeseen tragedy.
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