Thai school shooting: Alleged gunman, 14, was quiet & reserved, raised by 'loving' grandparents

The 14-year-old boy who allegedly killed seven people in a school shooting near Bangkok, Thailand, on Aug. 7 was described as quiet and reserved.

He was raised by loving grandparents, those acquainted with him told The Straits Times.

The shooting

The shooting took place on Aug. 7.

The teen had allegedly used a legally registered firearm belonging to his grandfather in the attack.

Police said he first killed his grandparents at their home before heading to his school, Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi province.

There, he allegedly killed two teachers and three staff members before turning the gun on himself.

At least 23 others were injured.

The teenager later died while being taken to hospital.

At least seven people, including the boy, died in the incident.

Aunt said the boy kept to himself

Speaking to ST, the boy's aunt, Samang Chaisorn, described her nephew as someone who largely kept to himself and had few friends.

"He wasn't particularly cheerful; he was just very quiet," she said.

After hearing reports of a shooting at the school, she said she tried calling the boy's grandfather to ask him to pick the teenager up, but was unable to reach him.

At the time, she did not know that her nephew had allegedly carried out the attack.

Upon arriving at the grandparents' home, they were unable to enter because the door was locked, the aunt said.

After gaining access to the house, they discovered that both grandparents had died.

The subdistrict headman, who was among the first to enter the house, told ST that the grandfather was found near the kitchen with a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

The grandmother, who was found in a bedroom, was also believed to have been shot in the head.

"She was still under the blanket, as though she were asleep," he was quoted as saying.

The headman described the couple as kind people who had raised their grandson since he was very young.

Authorities investigating motive

According to ST, it remains unclear if the teen had targeted anyone in particular during the alleged attack.

However, he was reportedly a victim of bullying in school, and is understood to have been locked in a school toilet by some other students a day before the incident.

Authorities are currently investigating the motive behind the attack, as well as how the teenager gained access to the firearm.

Preliminary findings indicate that he brought the gun to school in a bag.

Thailand's education minister Prasert Jantararuangtong said security measures at schools would be strengthened "significantly" following the incident.

Education district directors from across the country are scheduled to meet on Aug. 8 to discuss tighter school security measures and additional safeguards for students.