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A 16-year-old gunman killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday after shooting through locked doors to force his way inside. A civilian who followed the attacker into the building then shot him, bringing the attack to an end, authorities confirmed.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said officers found the suspect dead inside the school within minutes of the first emergency call. The three children who died were aged 5, 8 and 11. A 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher also suffered injuries and were taken to hospital in critical condition.
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How the Attack Unfolded
The first 911 call came in just before 1 p.m. from a person sitting in a vehicle outside the school. That caller reported that someone armed with a long gun had opened fire on them. Further calls quickly followed from inside the building.
Officers arrived on scene within minutes. Police spokesperson Sheila Miller said the attacker went down inside the school shortly after officers got there. Authorities identified the shooter as a Bend resident but said they did not know whether he had any connection to the school or had previously attended it.
According to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation, the attacker used a pump-action shotgun that his mother had purchased. The official spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly.
Community Response and School Impact
After the shooting, authorities transported children by bus to a nearby church serving as a family reunification center. Parents embraced their children as they walked to their cars. Some children carried stuffed animals or other comfort items from home.
Silver Rail Elementary serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade. As of last year, the school had 459 enrolled students, according to the Oregon Department of Education. Bend sits roughly 200 kilometers southeast of Portland and has grown significantly in population over the past three decades. The city is a well-known hub for tourism and outdoor recreation near Mount Bachelor.
In response to the tragedy, the Bend-La Pine school district canceled all classes, sports and extracurricular activities on Friday across all 32 of its schools.
Governor Speaks Out
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek addressed the shooting at a news conference, saying her heart was “absolutely broken.” She also directed her remarks toward the civilian who intervened to stop the attacker.
“To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life: Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well,” Kotek said.
The attack marked the 28th mass killing in the United States so far this year, according to a database maintained by the Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
