Teacher Dies After School Shooting in Southern Thailand

A female teacher died early Thursday after being shot at a school in southern Thailand’s Hat Yai district, local authorities said.

The shooting took place on Wednesday at Patongprathankiriwat School in Songkhla province. Police said a 17-year-old suspect used a firearm stolen from a police officer to shoot the teacher, identified as Sasiphat Sinsamosorn. He was later detained.

A female student was also injured in the incident. Authorities have not yet released information about her condition.

Sasiphat, who also served as the school’s director, was taken to an intensive care unit and underwent surgery. However, she died at around 2:00am due to severe internal injuries and heavy blood loss, according to the health ministry.

The school expressed grief in a message posted on its Facebook page, saying, “Although we have lost you, the memories and the goodness you left behind will remain in our hearts forever.”

Officials said the suspect has a sister who studies at the school. They added that he has a history of substance abuse and was discharged from a psychiatric hospital in December.

Gun ownership and gun-related violence are not uncommon in Thailand. In one of the country’s deadliest attacks, a former police officer killed 36 people, including 22 children, in a gun and knife attack at a nursery in eastern Thailand in 2022.