Student kills six people at Thailand school after shooting grandparents in country's worst mass shooting since 2022

On August 7, 2026, a 14-year-old student killed his grandparents at home before opening fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School outside Bangkok, killing three teachers and three students. The gunman, who used his grandfather's handgun to fire 26 rounds, also died. The attack left at least 15 people injured and prompted Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to demand immediate victim support, reigniting national debates over Thailand's high gun ownership rates and recent history of mass shootings.

Debsirin Nonthaburi school shooting

• ▪The August 7, 2026 shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School injured at least 15 people, with conflicting official reports placing the injured count as high as 22.
• ▪The teenage shooter died following the August 7, 2026 school shooting, with police stating he died by suicide and other reports indicating he died at a hospital.
• ▪A teenage student shot and killed at least six people, including three teachers and three students, at the Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province on August 7, 2026.

Teenage shooter kills grandparents

• ▪The suspected gunman shot and killed his two grandparents at their home on the morning of August 7, 2026, before traveling to the Debsirin Nonthaburi School.
• ▪The 14-year-old gunman lived with his grandparents prior to carrying out the shootings on August 7, 2026.

Grandfather's handgun used

• ▪Thai police reported that the gunman fired at least 26 rounds during the August 7, 2026 attack and was found with 34 additional rounds of ammunition.
• ▪The teenage gunman used his grandfather's handgun to shoot his grandparents and victims at the Debsirin Nonthaburi School on August 7, 2026.

Thailand gun ownership rates

• ▪Approximately 40 percent of the estimated 10.3 million firearms in circulation in Thailand are unregistered.
• ▪Thailand has an estimated 10 million to 10.3 million firearms in circulation, representing one of the highest gun ownership rates in the region.

Prime Minister response

• ▪Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered relevant officials to provide care and assistance to the victims of the August 7, 2026 shooting.
• ▪Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed condolences and questioned how such a terrible incident could happen in the country.

Previous Thailand mass shootings

• ▪In October 2022, a former police officer armed with a gun and a knife killed 36 people, including 24 children, at a nursery in northern Thailand.
• ▪In February 2026, a 17-year-old student stole a police officer's weapon and opened fire at a high school in southern Thailand, killing one person.