A 14-year-old boy in Kamphaeng Phet smashed his father's car before stealing the gun to carry out a shooting at school. His older brother apologized to society on his behalf, taking responsibility for poor upbringing, while rescue workers described the moment they subdued him during the incident.
At around 14:00 on 2 Sep 2026, a frightening incident occurred at Wachiraprakan Witthayakhom School, M.3, Nakhon Chum Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kamphaeng Phet. A 14-year-old third-year secondary student, currently on academic suspension due to depression, smashed his police officer father's car and stole a 9mm handgun. He fired shots from the school entrance all the way into the classrooms, causing panic among teachers and students who were changing classes, forcing them to flee in chaos.
Upon examining the scene, officers found shell casings near the school guard post and bullet marks on a teacher’s red sedan and two physical education rooms. Spent and unspent casings littered the floor, including one bullet hole in a glass door. Police and rescue officers from Kamphaeng Phet quickly controlled the situation and apprehended the suspect.
While officials managed the situation inside the school, anxious parents arrived to collect their children. The school had previously kept quiet about the suspect’s social media posts showing guns and threats to attack the school. The school had downplayed the risks, assuring they could manage the situation, but this incident alarmed parents, raising concerns about their children's safety at school.
After the incident, Kamphaeng Phet Governor Chatip Rujanaseree, Deputy Governor Suanit Suriyakul Na Ayutthaya, police, military, and relevant officials rushed to the scene to oversee security and provide psychological support to concerned parents. All students were safely released home. The motive remains under investigation. The school will close for two days, shifting to online learning, assuring parents of improved safety measures upon resuming normal classes.
A security guard said the suspect approached the school entrance and fired a shot near him, which he initially thought was a fake gunshot. However, when a bullet passed close to his ear, causing temporary hearing loss, he realized it was real. The boy then moved inside, firing numerous shots. The guard’s sister was very worried and urged him to seek medical attention upon hearing the news.
A physical education teacher described the critical moments upon hearing gunshots. He stayed calm, helping students escape safely. When confronting the suspect, he pushed students into the auditorium, ensuring their safety amid the tense situation.
Investigation and forensic teams thoroughly examined bullet impacts on the teacher’s car and classrooms. The teacher’s car sustained one bullet through the rear window, hitting the dashboard. Officers then took the 14-year-old to retrace all shooting locations within the school before transferring him to Mueang Kamphaeng Phet Police Station for detailed interrogation. Multidisciplinary professionals and related agencies will discuss the motives behind the shooting.
Nattapon Sinpoon, a Kamphaeng Phet rescue officer who subdued the boy, said his younger brother, a second-year student at the school, called to report the incident. Upon arrival, the suspect was holding a gun on the third floor of a building. Seeing him descend, Nattapon stopped his vehicle and calmly approached, asking him to put down the gun. The boy complied and lay down peacefully. No one was injured or killed. The suspect told Nattapon he felt pressured by friends and a teacher who revealed his private matters publicly, causing shame. He intended to find and shoot that teacher but failed to locate her.
Somyot Sinpoon, 50, head of Kamphaeng Phet rescue team, said about two weeks before the incident, the suspect posted photos of his policeman father’s gun and messages threatening to attack the school. As a parent of a student there, Somyot discussed prevention measures with school administrators, who were aware and prepared to respond if the threat materialized. His son later called to alert him when the shooting began. Somyot persuaded the boy to surrender. The suspect said he fired seven to eight shots but hit no one, seeking a teacher who had shared his personal story, which angered him.
Bee, 22, the suspect’s older brother, came to negotiate with him and offered information. He apologized to society for his brother’s actions and asked not to blame gaming or other issues. He said he did not know the true cause for the shooting. The boy lives with their mother and behaved normally with him, showing no aggression but enjoyed playing games. The boy rarely shared his problems. The family admits to raising him well, avoiding harsh language. Recently, they learned he was suspended due to issues they were not fully told about. Bee was the last to know about the threatening social media posts. He did not speak directly with his brother after arriving but asked society to forgive the boy, who is still young, and took responsibility for poor guidance.
Police Colonel Anek Jansorn, Deputy Commander of Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Police, said the boy suffered depression and was suspended for two weeks before today’s shooting. He smashed his father’s car and stole a firearm, firing first near the school where a security guard was nearly shot. The boy then fired inside the school but missed due to poor shooting skills. He sought a female teacher but she hid in a classroom. The police adopted security measures modeled after Nonthaburi Province. The suspect fired at six locations with many shell casings recovered. All agencies intensified security efforts. The motive may relate to resentment after the teacher suspended him. Experts are currently evaluating his mental state and motives in detail.