Deadliest School Shooting in Thailand: Unraveling the Mystery Surrounding a 14-Year-Old Student's Deadly Rampage

A 12-year-old girl has been confirmed dead in a school shooting in northwest Bangkok, marking one of Thailand's deadliest incidents of its kind in recent years. The victim's death brings the total toll to eight, including the suspected gunman's grandparents, who were killed in their home beforehand.

On Friday morning, the 14-year-old suspect, a student at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, stormed the premises, using a handgun to kill five teachers and then turning the weapon on himself. Before the attack, the suspect had lived with his grandparents, who were among the casualties. According to the authorities, the suspect had also killed them in their home before arriving at the school.

The high school released a statement expressing 'deepest condolences and profound sorrow' over the loss of the 12-year-old student, who died from injuries sustained during the massacre. The school also honored the five staff members who lost their lives, describing their 'goodness and virtue' and 'spirit as teachers.' The staff members included deputy head teacher Kittipong Somrat, math teacher Prapaporn Konsila, Thai language teacher Nantchanatporn Nakplang, guidance teacher Tiwaporn Wanich, and secretary Saifon Sirikitchakajorn.

Nantchanatporn, previously a student at the school, was revered as a 'much-loved' teacher who dedicated her life 'completely' to the school. She was recognized as an outstanding teacher just two days before the attack. The students, however, described a chaotic scene, with terrified students huddled together under their desks, sobbing as gunshots rang out nearby.

An 18-year-old student told Reuters that he initially thought there were firecrackers going off. Then it started getting more frequent, like 'bang, bang, bang' and then it went quiet at one point. And the shooting started again,' they said. Another student said he first heard what he thought was someone shooting at birds during his English class. Shortly after, another child ran in to inform them of the shooting.

The class immediately scrambled to barricade the room, pushing tables and chairs against the door and turning off the lights. Looking out of the classroom window, the student said he saw the shooter carrying a gun and walking to the building where his class was located. Those inside the room crouched down on the floor in the darkness, waiting for help for 30 minutes. Luckily, no one in our classroom was injured. The shooter only walked past our classroom.'

Concerned parents rushed to the school as news of the shooting spread. The son of CNN's senior travel producer Karla Cripps attends the school but was overseas at the time of the shooting, which began at about 10 a.m. local time. My son called me from Japan in a panic, telling me that he'd heard there was a shooting at his school. The kids were told to lock down in their classrooms, and he obviously was very upset,' Cripps said from outside the school.

Cripps said there was a 'really sad atmosphere' at the school as ambulances streamed in and out, and parents comforted their children. My son heard his friend's brother is in the hospital right now. He's among the injured… It's been terrible for everyone.

Using what police said was his grandfather's handgun, the suspect opened fire at the well-known secondary school of about 3,000 students, located on a busy highway in the Bang Kruai district of Nonthaburi province. Anutin later told reporters that the gunman had died after he turned the weapon on himself. The suspect was previously in a critical condition after the shooting, with doctors providing emergency treatment.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the attack could have been much worse if the suspected gunman had continued his attack, since he still had more than 30 rounds of ammunition remaining. Regarding a possible motive, the prime minister said that the suspect had been experiencing stress related to his studies. The boy's father, who CNN is not naming until the authorities identify his son, later told CNN he had no idea why the boy carried out the attack and that he had a 'good school result.'

The son of CNN's senior travel producer Karla Cripps attends the school but was overseas at the time of the shooting, which began at about 10 a.m. local time. My son called me from Japan in a panic, telling me that he'd heard there was a shooting at his school. The kids were told to lock down in their classrooms, and he obviously was very upset,' Cripps said from outside the school.

The high school released a statement as the news of the death was announced, expressing 'deepest condolences and profound sorrow' over the loss of the 12-year-old student. The school also honored the five staff members who lost their lives, describing their 'goodness and virtue' and 'spirit as teachers.' The staff members included deputy head teacher Kittipong Somrat, math teacher Prapaporn Konsila, Thai language teacher Nantchanatporn Nakplang, guidance teacher Tiwaporn Wanich, and secretary Saifon Sirikitchakajorn.

Prior to carrying out the attack, the suspect had searched for and viewed websites related to mass shootings, police said. Authorities have seized nine computers or electronic devices from the suspect's residence as part of their investigation. The UN children's agency (UNICEF) said the young age of the suspect raises 'difficult questions' for society as it called for better mental health services for children in the wake of the attack.

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat said Friday a new mental health action plan to support teachers and students would be announced following the shooting. Meanwhile, Thailand's Ministry of Education pledged tighter security measures at schools, particularly measures to prevent weapons and other dangerous items from being taken onto school premises, along with a compensation scheme for those impacted.

Gun ownership in Thailand is high, compared with other countries in Southeast Asia. There were more than 10.3 million civilian-owned firearms in Thailand, or around 15 guns for every 100 people, according to 2017 data from the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey (SAS). Gun ownership is legal in Thailand with a license, although a person must fit certain criteria, including being at least 20 years old and not having a serious criminal record.