Thailand school shooting death toll rises to 9 in Nonthaburi
Synopsis
A 14-year-old gunman's attack on a school in Thailand's Nonthaburi Province has now claimed nine lives — the latest victim a 12-year-old girl who died after hospitalisation. With investigators finding the suspect had studied an American school shooting case beforehand, this tragedy raises urgent questions about youth mental health, firearm access, and the cross-border spread of mass-shooting influence.
Key Takeaways
The death toll from the Debsirin Nonthaburi School shooting has risen to nine , including the gunman and his grandparents .
A 12-year-old girl , a student at the school, died after being hospitalised, pushing the count to nine.
14 people remain hospitalised as of 4:00 pm local time, Saturday .
The suspected shooter was a 14-year-old who allegedly fired dozens of shots using a handgun reportedly belonging to his grandfather.
Investigators found the suspect had studied an American school shooting case on his computer prior to the attack.
Thai police are scheduled to hold a press conference on Sunday to present preliminary investigation findings.
The death toll from a school shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Thailand's Nonthaburi Province has climbed to nine, authorities confirmed on Saturday, 9 August 2025, after a 12-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries. The attack, which unfolded on Friday morning in the Bang Kruai district on the northwestern outskirts of Bangkok, has left 14 people still hospitalised as of 4:00 pm local time on Saturday.
How the Attack Unfolded
Local police were first notified at approximately 10 am local time on Friday after a 14-year-old gunman opened fire on the school campus. A witness described the attacker as wearing a purple tracksuit and firing dozens of shots across the premises. Video footage circulated by local media captured continuous gunfire heard throughout the campus.
Authorities recovered a handgun at the scene. Initial information, according to officials, suggested the weapon belonged to the grandfather of the alleged shooter. A large quantity of ammunition was also found in the suspected shooter's bag.
Victims and the 12-Year-Old Girl
Earlier reports had placed the death toll at eight, including the gunman and his grandparents. The count rose to nine after the 12-year-old girl, a student at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, died following hospitalisation. The school expressed condolences to the student's family on social media. 14 people remain under medical care.
Investigating the Motive
Thai police summoned several students and teachers on Saturday to probe the gunman's motive and trace the source of the ammunition. According to Thai media reports, investigators found that the suspect had searched and studied an American school shooting case on his computer prior to the attack.
A friend of the gunman reportedly confirmed that he had been under considerable pressure in the period leading up to the shooting and had made what the friend described as thorough preparations. The suspect had also allegedly posted photographs of the weapon on social media before the attack.
What Authorities Have Said
The Nonthaburi Province public relations department, citing the Ministry of Public Health, issued an update via a Facebook post confirming the revised toll. Thai police announced that a press conference will be held on Sunday to disclose the preliminary findings of the investigation, including details on motive and the origin of the firearm.
This incident marks one of the deadliest school shootings in Thailand's recent history, drawing national and international attention to questions of juvenile access to firearms and the influence of foreign mass-shooting cases on at-risk youth.
Point of View
Where at-risk youth study and replicate foreign mass-casualty attacks. That Thai investigators found American school shooting research on the suspect's computer is a detail that deserves far more scrutiny than it will likely receive in the immediate news cycle. Thailand has historically maintained stricter civilian gun controls than many Western nations, yet a 14-year-old accessed a loaded handgun from within his own home. The policy failure here is not abstract — it is domestic, and it is a question of how legally held firearms are stored and supervised. The Sunday press conference will be watched closely, but the harder conversation — about youth mental health infrastructure and firearm storage laws — has barely begun.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people died in the Thailand school shooting in Nonthaburi?
The death toll has risen to nine, according to authorities, after a 12-year-old girl died following hospitalisation. Earlier reports had placed the count at eight, including the gunman and his grandparents.
Where did the Thailand school shooting take place?
The shooting occurred at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in the Bang Kruai district of Nonthaburi Province, on the northwestern outskirts of Bangkok, on Friday, 8 August 2025.
Who was the gunman in the Nonthaburi school shooting?
The gunman was a 14-year-old student. He was among the eight initial fatalities. Authorities say the handgun used reportedly belonged to his grandfather, and a large quantity of ammunition was found in his bag.
What was the motive behind the Thailand school shooting?
Thai police are still investigating the motive. Investigators reportedly found that the suspect had searched and studied an American school shooting case on his computer. A friend of the gunman said he had been under significant pressure and had made thorough preparations before the attack.
What are Thai authorities doing following the Nonthaburi school attack?
Thai police summoned students and teachers on Saturday for questioning and announced a press conference on Sunday to present preliminary investigation results, including findings on motive and the source of the ammunition.
