A 16-year-old shooter killed three children and a teacher at an Oregon elementary school before a bystander fatally shot him.
A 16-year-old suspect killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday after forcing entry through locked doors, according to local authorities. The suspect was later shot dead by a community member who intervened during the attack.
The children killed were aged 5, 8 and 11, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said during a press conference on Thursday evening. A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were also hospitalised with critical injuries.
According to Krantz, Deschutes County dispatchers received reports of an active shooter at 12:59 p.m. local time. A person in a vehicle outside the school reported being shot at multiple times by someone carrying a long gun.
The suspect reportedly entered the school after shooting through its locked doors. Law enforcement officers were alerted at approximately 1 p.m., and the school was placed under lockdown at 1:01 p.m. Officers arrived at the scene a minute later
Moments after their arrival, police received information that a community member had shot the suspect. Authorities said the 16-year-old was killed inside the school. The suspect’s identity and the victims’ names had not been released at the time of reporting.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised the bystander for intervening, describing the action as heroic and saying it had helped prevent further loss of life. She also acknowledged the emotional burden of the incident on the individual who confronted the suspect.
Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler expressed grief over the killings, stressing that schools should remain safe environments where children can learn without fear of violence.
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook also conveyed condolences to the victims’ families and the wider community. He said the school district’s immediate priorities were supporting students and staff and assisting law enforcement and emergency responders.
The specific type of firearm used in the shooting was not confirmed by the police chief during the press conference. However, an unnamed law enforcement official briefed on the incident told the Associated Press that the weapon was reportedly a pump-action shotgun.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation also joined the investigation. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that federal agents were assisting authorities at the scene.
Investigators had not publicly disclosed a motive for the attack. The incident has left the Bend community mourning the deaths of three young children and a teacher while authorities continue examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
