Target Sicharat Kumsuk Non-fatal injuries 4 | Deaths 2 Perpetrator Anatcha Boonkwan | |
Date June 6, 2003 (2003-06-06) Weapons 9mm semi-automatic pistol Location Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand | ||
On June 6, 2003, a school shooting occurred at the Pak Phanang school in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. The gunman, then 17-year-old Anatcha Boonkwan (a.k.a. "Nung") fatally shot two of his fellow students, and injured four others, using a semi-automatic pistol. This was apparently due to him having argued with classmate Sicharat Kumsuk, who was his actual target.
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Victims
The two killed were:
The four injured were:
All the injured victims were then 17 at the time of the incident.
Shooting
Anatcha Boonkwan, the perpetrator, was a student at the Pak Phanang school. A day prior to the shooting, Boonkwan had a tiff with his classmate, Sicharat Kumsuk. According to Kumsuk, it was a "trading of insults". On June 6, 2003, while students gathered on the school field to listen to a speech, Boonkwan attempted to shoot Kumsuk using a 9mm semi-automatic pistol which he had stolen from his father. His father, realising that his weapon had been stolen, then rushed to school. He arrived before the younger Boonkwan opened fire. Upon learning of his father's arrival, Anatcha Boonkwan took out the pistol and fired seven shots, but only one hit Kumsuk. The others struck his other classmates. The total death toll was 2, while 4 others were injured. Boonkwan was subsequently arrested by local police.
Reaction
In response to the shooting, then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that the incident was a "deplorable emulation of an example set in western countries". He added that he would "work with the Education Ministry to prevent more school shootings". Friends of Kraisorn Kanchanadul, one of the two who were fatally shot, expressed their desire to "seek revenge" on Boonkwan.