Police are examining reports that the student responsible for the school shooting in Nonthaburi today, August 7, had been regularly bullied by classmates and had developed resentment over his treatment.
In the latest report, eight people have now been confirmed dead, including five teachers, the student responsible for the shooting and his two grandparents, who police found dead at their home. One of the teachers killed was a deputy school director.
Another 22 people were injured and are being treated. Nine are seriously injured, including seven students and two teachers.
Hone Krasae host Kanchai Kamnerdploy reported that the student first shot a teacher in his own classroom before moving to a neighbouring classroom, where he shot two more teachers and injured students.
A witness said that classmates regularly bullied the student and claimed teachers had not intervened to help him. The witness believed this had caused him to become resentful towards teachers.
Initial police enquiries also found that the student’s parents had separated and he had lived with his grandparents since childhood. Classmates told police that he was regularly teased and physically bullied, which investigators are examining as part of the possible motive.
Police believe the student took a firearm belonging to his grandfather to school intending to target classmates who had bullied him. However, the teachers were able to move those students away, after which teachers were targeted instead.
Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwannachavee visited the area following the shooting and confirmed that the student turned the gun on himself. Rescue workers provided assistance, but he died while being taken to hospital.
Polapee said the firearm was registered to the student’s grandfather. When officials later went to the family home, they found the student’s 73 year old grandfather and 74 year old grandmother dead.
Police believe the student killed his grandparents early that morning before taking his grandfather’s gun to school and carrying out the shooting there. Investigators have not yet established why he targeted his grandparents.
Information provided by a teacher presented a different picture of the student’s behaviour at school. The teacher described him as a good student who participated in activities, had friends and had not displayed aggressive behaviour.
Investigators also found gaming equipment at the student’s home. Polapee said officials believed he may have spent a significant amount of time gaming, while his teacher also described him as someone who enjoyed playing games.
However, the teacher said the student complied when told to stop playing and did not become aggressive. People familiar with the student also described him as polite and well-behaved. They said he tended to spend considerable time alone in his room playing games and rarely went out or had a close group of friends.
Officials found no history of him taking medication for, or receiving treatment related to, mental health conditions.
Investigators later examined a computer at the home and found five videos of shootings in other countries. Police said the student had watched the videos since July 30, several days before the shooting.
The computer and other evidence have been taken for further examination as investigators work to determine whether the material had any connection to the student’s actions.
Police are continuing to investigate what led to the incident and have not reached a conclusion on the motive.
The story Bullying emerges as possible motive in Nonthaburi school shooting as seen on Thaiger News.
