Trauma in Nonthaburi: A Student Witnesses School Shooting
On Friday morning, as classes were wrapping up at Debsirin School, a 14‑year‑old pupil opened fire, killing five teachers and injuring over 30 people, including fellow students.
The gunman stalked from classroom to classroom, as a seventh‑grader in his class tells BBC he was standing in front of a teacher when the shooting began. “She was talking to me when the gunman appeared,” the pupil says, eyes still red from the trauma.
In the chaos, the student and classmates had to climb over a school fence to escape. Her mother later told reporters her daughter feared she would never see her again.
Police investigators say the revolver used was a 9mm handgun that was thought to belong to the shooter’s grandfather. Forensic reports indicate the bullets were “quite accurate,” hitting vital spots on victims’ bodies.
The identity of the shooter remains undisclosed, and authorities have not yet announced a motive. Local officials and the Prime Minister have linked the tragedy to mounting academic pressures and the prevalence of firearms in the country.
Reports from the scene show students clutching each other, while emergency services rushed wounded students to nearby hospitals. The day’s violence has revived urgent public demand for tighter gun control in Thailand, where an estimated seven million people own guns—many unlicensed.
Key facts to remember:
- 5 teachers killed, 30+ injured
- Shooter 14 years old
- Gun likely from family, 9mm handgun
- Investigations ongoing; no motive yet.
As Thailand grapples with escalating gun violence, the Debsirin shooting underscores the need for systematic reform of gun laws and increased safeguards in schools. The community’s immediate response—a mix of grief and determination—offers a glimmer of hope that collective voice can influence future policies.
