Was 'stress' behind 'well-planned' Thailand school shooting? Teen kills at least 8; what we know so far

Fresh details have emerged after at least eight people were killed on Friday following a shooting by a 14-year-old at the Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Thailand.

The incident, which also saw at least 30 people injured, has also led to the Class 9 student dying by suicide after killing several people, despite allegedly having more than 30 bullets left with him, as per a Reuters report, citing Nonthaburi provincial police commander Lieutenant Colonel Dechrapee Kongdee.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters that the police had interrogated his close friend who revealed that the shooter had allegedly been "under stress" related to his schooling.

The Thai PM also noted that the accused's actions indicated that the shooting was “well planned”, with “clear steps and clear goals”.

The Thai police have also alleged that the shooter's target was teachers of the secondary school, despite one teacher claiming that he had been a “good kid with good study records” and an avid gamer, with no prior history of aggression.

In that regard, at least five of those injured were said to be teachers from the school.

What we know about the case so far

Amid ongoing reconstructions of the tragedy at the Thai secondary school, the police have noted that the weapon that the teenager used was a 9mm handgun, which reportedly belonged to his grandfather.

It is said that he even posted a picture with the gun on social media, which is being evaluated for signs that could offer clues about the 14-year-old's mental health.

The teenager is then said to have killed his grandparents with it before the school shooting took place at 10 AM on Friday, though the exact timing of the events is yet to be reconstructed and clarified.

After firing 26 rounds that killed and injured several people, he stopped despite having more than 30 bullets left, and then died by suicide.

Though a first responder claimed that the shooter had been alive when they were called to the scene, he then died on the way to the hospital due to his self-inflicted gunshot wound.

(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 AM to 10 PM.)