BEND, Oregon — Three children and a teacher were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, after a 16-year-old suspect entered the building and opened fire, police said.
The suspect was subsequently shot dead by an armed community member who followed him into the school, according to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz.
The victims were three children aged five, eight and 11, and a teacher. A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were critically injured and taken to St Charles Medical Center in Bend.
Police said the suspect gained entry to Silver Rail Elementary School by firing at locked doors with a long gun. Authorities have not released his identity or established a motive for the attack.
Emergency services began receiving calls at about 12:59 p.m. local time, initially reporting that someone had fired at a vehicle outside the school.
Within a minute, further calls alerted authorities to an active shooter inside the building, prompting officers to rush to the scene.
Police arrived at about 1:02 p.m. and soon received information that the suspect had been shot.
Krantz said the community member had witnessed the teenager entering the school and followed him inside before confronting him. The suspect was later confirmed dead at the scene.
Authorities have not identified the bystander publicly. Investigators are also examining whether the suspect had any connection to the school and what might have prompted the attack.
The shooting triggered a lockdown as officers secured the premises and emergency responders attended to the injured.
Students were later taken by bus to a nearby church, where they were reunited with their parents and guardians.
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook said the tragedy had left the school community devastated.
In a statement, Cook said the district was focused on supporting students, staff and affected families while cooperating with law enforcement and emergency responders.
All schools in the Bend-La Pine district were scheduled to close on Friday, and school activities and athletic events were cancelled.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek joined local officials in responding to the incident and expressed condolences to the families of those killed. She also praised the actions of school staff, first responders and the community member who confronted the gunman.
Kotek acknowledged that the intervention could carry an emotional burden for the bystander and said her thoughts were with the person involved.
Silver Rail Elementary School serves approximately 450 pupils from kindergarten through fifth grade. It is located in Bend, a city of about 100,000 people in central Oregon.
Police said investigators were continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack, including the suspect’s background, his possible connection to the school and the motive for the shooting.
Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
