Friend Says Gunman Showed No Bullying Marks Before Attack

Friend rejects bullying claims about Nonthaburi school shooting gunmanLegacyA close friend of the student gunman in the Nonthaburi school shooting on August 7 has claimed that the student had never been bullied or involved in disputes with classmates. The close friend, identified only as Mak (pseudonym), gave the account after police finished questioning him yesterday, August 8, with his parents’ permission. Mak described the perpetrator, now reported to have been 14 years old, as quiet and reserved, rarely speaking to others. He typically sat in the far-left corner at the back of the classroom. According to Mak, the student had never been bullied, teased, or physically assaulted during the years they had known each other from Mathayom 1 to Mathayom 3. He could not comment on the student’s primary school years as they did not know each other at the time. Photo from Wason Wanichakorn via AP Photo Khaosod reported that Mak also rejected claims circulating online that the student had previously been kicked into a toilet or subjected to prolonged bullying, describing them as false. As far as Mak knew, the student had no grudges or disputes with other students. The only issue he was aware of involved a Thai-language teacher, after the student complained about struggling with the amount of homework and receiving a grade of zero in the subject. The student made several attempts to resolve the failing grade before eventually passing and regularly complained to Mak about the issue. Mak also confirmed that the student had previously brought a BB gun to school in his bag, showing it to friends and firing it on school grounds. Another student reported the incident, leading a teacher to confiscate the BB gun and the school to deduct conduct points. Photo from Sakchai Lalit via AP Photo On the morning of the shooting, all students, including the accused student, attended the morning flag ceremony before going to class as usual. The incident occurred during the second lesson, a mathematics class, while the teacher was explaining homework and preparing to tutor the students. About 10 minutes into the lesson, the student put in earplugs, stood up from his desk at the back of the classroom and walked towards the front carrying a shoulder bag containing ammunition. Mak alleged that the student then fired at the mathematics teacher before leaving the classroom and firing at a teacher in another room. Mak attempted to find a place to take cover during the incident. There had been no warning signs or tense atmosphere in the classroom immediately before the shooting, he added. Investigators are still working to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and determine the motive behind the incident. The story Friend rejects bullying claims about Nonthaburi school shooting gunman as seen on Thaiger News.