A shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, killed three children and a teacher on Thursday afternoon, police said. Authorities said the 16-year-old suspect, a Bend resident, is dead after a community member who pursued him into the building fatally shot him.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz detailed the attack during a news conference Thursday evening. Police said the first 911 call came in at 12:59 p.m. local time from someone in a vehicle who reported being shot at by a person carrying a long gun. Dozens of additional calls followed reporting that a shooter had entered the K-5 school, which enrolls more than 400 students and employs over 40 staff members.
What Happened At The Bend Oregon Elementary School Shooting
Police said the suspect forced his way into the school around 1 p.m. local time by firing through locked doors. The first Bend police officers reached the scene at 1:02 p.m., just minutes after the initial call.
Three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, were killed, along with an adult teacher, according to police. A 7-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend with critical injuries. Police have not released the identities of any of the victims, though families have been notified.
Authorities said the suspect was fatally shot by a community member who saw him enter the school, followed him inside and confronted him. Police have not identified that person. Investigators have not disclosed how the teenager obtained the weapon, and the ATF and FBI are assisting Bend police with the investigation.
Under Oregon law, a person must be 18 to purchase rifles and shotguns and 21 to purchase handguns, and it is illegal to sell firearms to anyone under 18. Minors can legally possess non-handgun firearms with parental consent, and can temporarily possess firearms for lawful purposes such as hunting or target practice, according to NBC News.
What It Means For Bend Families And Students
All schools in the Bend-La Pine Schools district are closed Friday, along with district activities and athletic events, as the community absorbs the loss. For a school of more than 400 students, the closure affects nearly every family connected to Silver Rail Elementary.
Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler called it “an awful day for our community” and said, “A school should be a safe place where children can learn and feel secure.” Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek praised the response of school staff, parents, first responders and the community member who intervened, according to NBC News.
Background And Witness Accounts
Bend resident Leah Schwartz told NBC News she heard at least six shots from nearby. “They were spaced out, which made us question whether it was gunshots or someone doing construction,” she said.
Chief Krantz indicated the inquiry into the shooting is far from over. “This is going to be a long investigation,” he said.
What’s Next
Bend-La Pine Schools has canceled classes and activities across the district for Friday. The ATF and FBI continue to assist local police as they work to determine how the suspect accessed the firearm used in the attack. Police have not announced a timeline for releasing further details on the victims or the investigation.
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