A drunken father fired a gun in the middle of a school, claiming frustration over his child's inability to read and calculate. The Nakhon Ratchasima Primary Educational Service Area Office 4 investigated the facts. Police filed multiple serious charges and urged the school to increase vigilance and caution at the premises.
At 15:20 on 2 November 2026, Sikhiu Police Station in Nakhon Ratchasima received a report of a parent acting violently with a firearm inside Ban Na Dee Sri Sa-at School, Moo 9, Ban Thanon Na Dee, Kut Noi Subdistrict, Sikhiu District. Officers immediately proceeded to investigate.
They found the perpetrator, Mr. Manachai, 54, from Sikhiu District, intoxicated and shouting loudly before firing several shots into the air with a .38-caliber handgun, causing alarm among teachers and parents present. He then fled but was pursued and apprehended by police along with the firearm.
Initial questioning revealed that the man had come to pick up his child, a first grader, and had an argument with a teacher. He was upset that his child could not yet add numbers or read, and combined with his drunken state, he lost control and committed the act. No one was injured.
On 3 November 2026, reporters visited Ban Na Dee Sri Sa-at School, finding classes suspended and a quiet atmosphere. The small school has about 30 students and 7 teachers and is located away from the community, surrounded mostly by agricultural land and forest.
Meanwhile, a committee from the Nakhon Ratchasima Primary Educational Service Area Office 4 conducted interviews with those involved and witnesses, including investigating the perpetrator’s claims about his child’s learning progress. The meeting lasted about two hours, after which the committee left without giving statements to the media as previously planned.
Police Major General Narongsak Promtha, Commander of Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police, stated that upon receiving the emergency call via hotline 191, Sikhiu Police promptly responded and detained the suspect with the weapon. The suspect admitted to personal problems and dissatisfaction with the school’s teaching but confirmed no injuries resulted from the incident.
Authorities initially charged the man with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, carrying a firearm into town, villages, or public areas without cause, and driving under the influence. He was sent to Sikhiu Provincial Court to face legal proceedings.
Major General Narongsak added that the incident was a momentary lapse of judgment. He urged schools and relevant parties to heighten caution and immediately report suspicious or potentially violent behavior to police. Authorities have coordinated with local schools to rehearse emergency response plans and have increased security patrols and traffic assistance during student drop-off and pick-up times.