Credited from: INDIATIMES
The tragic shooting in Thailand involved a 14-year-old boy who allegedly killed his grandparents at home before targeting students and teachers at his school, resulting in eight fatalities, including his own. Investigators state that the teenager had previously had an air gun confiscated by a teacher and had learned to use firearms through violent content on social media, according to police statements and reports from Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and India Times.
Atthapol Anusit, the deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 1, mentioned that the boy exhibited an ongoing interest in firearms over the last one to two years. Despite his apparent normal behavior, his mother insisted that she had seen no signs of distress leading up to the incident, adding to the community's disbelief, as reported by BBC and Channel News Asia.
The investigation continues with police interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence, such as cartridge cases and the shooter’s personal computer, which revealed his consumption of violent media. Authorities noted that, while the boy had used a handgun owned by his grandfather, there was no evidence he had practiced shooting, indicating a troubling motive that could include anxiety over studies and personal conflicts, as indicated by sources including South China Morning Post and BBC.
In response to the shooting, Thai Education authorities have pledged to revise safety protocols, which will include mental health screenings and measures to identify and assist at-risk youths. This development reflects ongoing discussions about gun control in Thailand, recognized as one of the largest gun-owning nations in Southeast Asia, as highlighted in reports from India Times, South China Morning Post, and BBC.