Teacher Killed by Police Officer Husband at Thai Kindergarten
Teacher Killed by Police Officer Husband at Thai Kindergarten
BANGKOK, Sept. 10, 2026 — A Thai police officer allegedly shot and killed his wife, a kindergarten teacher, at the school where she worked in Chonburi province on Wednesday, while all 44 children at the school were safely evacuated, authorities said.
The shooting took place at Nong Pla Lai Municipal Kindergarten in Chonburi, southeast of Bangkok, at around 10:30 a.m., according to local officials cited by AFP. The suspected gunman, who is believed to be a police officer from the area, reportedly arrived at the school and spoke with his wife before shooting her.
The incident occurred outside the classroom, meaning none of the children witnessed the shooting, according to Sayan Klomaon, chairman of the Nong Pla Lai sub-district council. The suspect then left the school and returned to his home.
Police surrounded the house and began negotiating with the suspect to persuade him to surrender. His motive remained unclear.
Chonburi Governor Naris Niramaiwong confirmed that all 44 children, along with three teachers and three other staff members, were safely evacuated from the kindergarten.
The governor ordered the school to close temporarily and said psychological support would be made available to children and staff affected by the incident.
The incident did not result in any reported injuries among the children.
The shooting comes amid renewed concern over gun violence in Thailand following several high-profile incidents in recent months.
In August, a 14-year-old boy reportedly killed his grandparents before opening fire at his school, killing five school staff members and a student, before taking his own life. The incident intensified calls for tighter controls on firearms in the country.
Thailand has also faced other deadly shootings in recent years. In October 2022, a former police officer armed with a gun and knife attacked a childcare centre in northeastern Thailand, killing 24 children and 12 adults, in one of the country’s deadliest mass killings.
The latest incident has once again put school safety and gun violence under scrutiny, although authorities have not indicated that Wednesday’s shooting was connected to the recent mass-shooting incidents.
Police were continuing to negotiate with the suspect at his home as authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding the killing.
