The teenage student who fired multiple shots at his school in Kamphaeng Phet province faces several charges, while the school has been closed for two days to review and improve safety measures.
Police said the Grade 9 student was charged with attempted premeditated murder, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm in a public place and firing a gun in public without justifiable cause.
The 14-year-old was arrested at Wachiraprakarn Wittayakom School in Kamphaeng Phet’s Muang district on Wednesday afternoon after firing eight shots from a pistol belonging to his policeman father. One bullet grazed the neck of a school security guard, while other shots struck a car window and a teacher’s office.
According to police, the boy had earlier been suspended from onsite classes for two weeks. On Wednesday, he smashed a window of his father’s car and took the pistol and its magazines. His father was off duty at the time.
The teenager then walked two kilometres from his father’s house to the school, where he fired at a security guard at the entrance. Local media reported that he was also looking for a teacher who had exposed messages about guns that he had posted in a peer chat group. He then fired several shots inside the school compound.
The boy’s parents are divorced. His mother said her son had been under stress after being regularly bullied. She said he wanted to return to school because he missed his classes and friends.
Police found a receipt on the boy’s phone for the purchase of the hammer he allegedly used to smash the window of his father’s car. They also found a history of online searches for firearms and shooting-spree videos.
The 14-year-old had reportedly discussed plans for a gun attack at the school with friends.
School officials suspended onsite teaching on Thursday and Friday pending revisions of safety measures.
Many other schools across Thailand have tightened security, and some have even conducted active-shooter drills in recent weeks.
The heightened focus on safety followed an attack on Aug 7 at Debsirin Nonthaburi School that killed seven people, including the gunman, who had shot his grandparents to death earlier.