Hundreds of mourners gathered at a temple in Thailand on Monday to remember Naphat Chaimar, a 12-year-old girl who became the youngest victim of last week’s deadly school shooting in Nonthaburi province.
Among those attending the funeral was the father of the 14-year-old boy accused of carrying out the attack. In an emotional encounter, Nithi Yimruang fell to his knees before Naphat’s parents and pleaded for their forgiveness.
Crying and bowing his head in the traditional Thai wai gesture, Nithi apologized to Pongthon and Naphat’s mother for the actions of his son, Patchat Yimruang.
Pongthon, despite his overwhelming grief, reached down and helped Nithi to his feet.
The two fathers then shared a deeply emotional moment, with Naphat’s parents telling Nithi that they understood he was also suffering after losing his son and both parents in the tragedy.
Patchat is accused of shooting and killing his grandfather and grandmother before opening fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi school, killing six people and injuring more than 30 others. The teenager later died after turning the gun on himself.
Speaking before Naphat’s funeral, Nithi said he was struggling with conflicting emotions.
“I feel guilty and heartbroken because I’ve suffered a loss too.”
He said he had lost his son as well as his parents and was unable to understand what had driven the teenager to commit such violence.
‘He was number one to me’
Nithi said Patchat had lived with his grandparents since his parents separated when he was two years old, although he continued to visit his son every weekend and take him to extra tutoring classes.
He described the teenager as quiet and reserved.
“I used to ask him quite often how things were at school, and he would just say, ‘so-so’,” Nithi recalled.
He said his son had become increasingly withdrawn in the period before the shooting.
“Now, there’s no way for me to find out or ask him any more,” he said.
A nation mourns
The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of grief across Thailand, including from the country’s royal family and government.
Inside the temple at Wat Lat Pla Duk in Nonthaburi, Naphat’s coffin was surrounded by flowers and official wreaths, including tributes from King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Queen Suthida, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other senior government officials.
The palace announced that the king had granted royal patronage to the victims and their families. Under the arrangement, those injured would receive treatment under royal care, while royal support would also be provided for the funeral rites and cremations of those who died.
‘What I miss most are her dreams’
For Naphat’s parents, however, the ceremony was about remembering a daughter whose life had only just begun.
Hundreds of mourners, including teachers, classmates, friends and government officials, gathered as monks chanted prayers around her coffin.
Photographs displayed at the temple showed Naphat growing from a baby into a confident young girl who enjoyed music, dancing and performing.
She had joined the school only three months earlier as part of its newest Grade 7 cohort.
Her father said what he and Naphat’s mother would miss most were the dreams their daughter had for the future.
“What I miss most about her, and what her mother and I miss the most, are her dreams.”
Naphat had recently participated in a dance competition and a Thai traditional costume competition. She was also preparing for a cheerleading competition later in the month.
“She took on all these activities, and she was able to do them all,” her father said. “She really enjoyed expressing herself.”
A vaccination trip that ended in tragedy
When Naphat’s parents first learned about the shooting, they repeatedly called her phone, hoping she would answer.
Eventually, an officer informed them that she had been taken to Phranangklao Hospital in critical condition.
Naphat died on Saturday, bringing the overall death toll to nine, including the teenage attacker.
A teacher who knew Naphat said she would normally not have been inside the part of the school where the shooting occurred. She had gone there with other students to receive a vaccination and was leaving the room when she was struck.
Despite losing his daughter, Pongthon said he did not blame the school.
“To put it simply, I think something like this can happen anywhere,” he said. “Anywhere in the world.”
For Naphat’s family, the funeral marked not only the end of a devastating week but also the painful beginning of life without a daughter whose future was still filled with possibilities.