Police Probe Teen Shooter's Home, Find Grandparents Dead
Police discovered the 14-year-old Thepsirin School shooter had killed his grandparents at their Nonthaburi home before the attack, with investigators examining violent video games and behavioral factors as possible motives.
On August 7, Deputy Police Commissioner Watthana Yijeen led officers to inspect the home of a 14-year-old boy responsible for a shooting at Thepsirin School in the Banggrok area of Nonthaburi province, which resulted in injuries to numerous teachers and students and seven confirmed deaths.
Deputy Police Commissioner Watthana revealed that police and forensic officers inspected the residence where the suspect lived with his grandparents in Bangkhurat Subdistrict, Bangbuathong District, Nonthaburi, and found the front door locked from the outside. Officers had to cut the lock to enter and discovered two deceased persons—the suspect's paternal grandparents.
Watthana stated that preliminary investigation suggests the 14-year-old shot his grandparents in the early morning before leaving for school, then locked the front door from outside to prevent discovery before proceeding to carry out the school attack.
According to initial examination of the bodies, the grandfather was shot in the back with the bullet exiting through the front, while preliminary evidence suggests the grandmother was shot while sleeping. Forensic doctors are conducting detailed examinations.
Regarding motives and clues, Watthana noted that neighbors did not hear gunshots initially because the isolated house had few nearby residents. Information from the suspect's uncle, the youngest son of the deceased grandparents, indicated the boy had lived with his grandparents since childhood, enjoyed gaming and spent excessive time on computers, but showed no obvious signs of conflict or stress.
Watthana added that analysts are examining the suspect's computer and have preliminarily found violent video games, while investigators are probing certain behavioral patterns that may have motivated the attack. The school-related issues remain under investigation for additional facts.
Reports indicate the firearm used was a registered gun belonging to the grandfather. Investigators are intensifying efforts to determine the full motivation behind the shooting.
