Father apologises for son’s deadly shooting at Debsirin

The parents of the 14-year-old gunman, who was a student at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, were summoned by police for separate questioning yesterday over Friday’s shooting at the school.

“I apologise to society for what my son did. I have not seen him yet,” the father told reporters.

The boy’s mother declined to answer questions from the media.

Meanwhile, the school’s Facebook page yesterday announced the death of Naphat Chaima, a girl who was injured in Friday’s shooting, bringing the death toll to nine.

Those killed included five school teachers, the gunman and his two grandparents, whose bodies were later found at their home by police. One of the teachers killed was a deputy school director. The shooter died on the way to hospital from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Twenty-two people were injured and taken to at least seven hospitals in Nonthaburi province.

Meanwhile, Their Majesties the King and Queen have accepted all those injured in the incident as patients under royal patronage and have also accepted the bodies of those killed under royal patronage.

In front of the school, many people, including families of the victims and local residents, brought bouquets of flowers to place along the school fence in memory of those who died.

Charin, who came with his son to lay flowers, said he lived nearby and felt attached to the area, even though his children did not attend the school.

He said schools were likely to have had security measures in place, but they should be reviewed and strengthened beyond screening for weapons and other dangerous objects.

In particular, schools should pay greater attention to monitoring and assessing the mental wellbeing of teachers, students and all school personnel to prevent another tragedy, he said.

The school buildings where the shooting took place were restricted areas, with no unauthorised people allowed inside.

The parents of victims and injured students were, however, permitted to collect belongings and medication left by some students in classrooms within the crime scene.

Meanwhile, investigators at Plai Bang police station questioned 16 witnesses yesterday, including teachers and students, about the shooting. Among them were friends and classmates of the shooter.

Police are also working with the shooter’s Thai language teacher to obtain information to help clarify the motive behind his actions. He is reported to have asked for the teacher shortly before the shooting.

Investigators are also looking into reports that the teenager may have been under stress and had previously discussed problems with his grades with friends.