THE 14-year-old boy accused of carrying out Thailand’s deadliest school shooting in years had previously brought an air gun to school, which was confiscated by a teacher, and had watched violent content on social media, police said on Sunday.
The teenager allegedly killed his grandparents at their home on Friday before opening fire at his school outside Bangkok, killing six more people before turning the gun on himself.
Police said the boy had also used social media to learn how to use firearms, raising fresh concerns over young people’s exposure to violent online content and access to weapons.
“According to witness interviews, the perpetrator had begun showing interest in studying the use of firearms for some time, about one to two years,” Reuters cited Atthapol Anusit, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 1, saying in Bangkok on Sunday.
Atthapol said police had so far interviewed 17 witnesses and recovered a knife from the boy’s bag. Other evidence collected from the crime scenes included a firearm, spent cartridge cases and a personal computer.
“After examining the PC, it was found that the child had watched social media content involving violence,” he said in Ban, adding that there was no evidence so far that the teenager had practised shooting.
Police also found that a teacher had confiscated a BB gun, a type of air gun, after the boy brought it to school last year.
Atthapol said the boy had lived with his grandparents for 12 years following the separation of his parents.
The shooting left eight people dead, including the suspect, and more than 20 others injured, making it Thailand’s deadliest mass shooting since 2022.
The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of firearms control and school safety in Thailand, one of Southeast Asia’s largest gun-owning countries.
The Ministry of Education said it would introduce new school safety protocols over the next three months, including mental health screening and a referral system for individuals considered at risk.
The measures will also include emergency response drills, efforts to combat bullying and stronger screening to prevent dangerous items from being brought into schools.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the teenager’s background, his access to firearms and the circumstances surrounding Friday’s attack. - August 9, 2026
