Bend School Shooting Leaves Four Victims Dead, Including Three Children and a Teacher
BEND, Oregon — A shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, left four people dead on Thursday afternoon, including three children and a teacher. The 16-year-old suspected gunman was also killed after a community member confronted him inside the school, according to police.
The victims included children aged 5, 8 and 11, along with a teacher. Another child, aged 7, and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to hospital with critical injuries.
Police received multiple emergency calls reporting gunfire at the school shortly before 1 p.m. Authorities said the suspect forced his way into the locked building by shooting through a door, prompting a major emergency response.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the first reported call came at approximately 12:59 p.m. from a person in a vehicle near the school who reported being fired at by someone carrying a long gun.
An official familiar with the investigation told the Associated Press that the shotgun used in the attack had been purchased by the suspect’s mother.
Community Member Confronts the Suspect
According to police, dispatchers received numerous reports of gunfire and information that the suspect had entered the school.
At approximately 1:02 p.m., shortly before officers arrived, a community member pursued the suspect into the building and shot him, killing him, Chief Krantz said.
Authorities initially identified the suspect as a 16-year-old resident of Bend but did not immediately release further details about his identity or a possible motive.
Audio obtained by KGW captured emergency dispatchers responding to reports of the shooting during the minutes before officers reached the scene. The initial dispatch information included an unconfirmed report that a person at the school had shot the suspect.
Police continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Students Reunited With Their Families
Hundreds of law enforcement officers and firefighters responded to Silver Rail Elementary School as emergency crews worked to evacuate students and staff.
The school serves more than 400 students and employs over 50 staff members. Officers moved through classrooms as the evacuation continued.
Authorities directed parents and guardians to a reunification centre at Journey Church on South Highway 97, where students were transported after leaving the school.
Chief Krantz said the reunification process was still underway at approximately 5:30 p.m. as families waited to be reunited with their children.
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook expressed grief over the loss of life and offered condolences to the affected families.
“We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy,” Cook said in a statement.
He added that the district’s immediate priorities were supporting students and staff while assisting police and emergency responders.
The school district also announced that all schools, activities and athletic events would be cancelled on Friday.
School Officials and Governor Express Grief
Bend officials and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek addressed the tragedy during an emotional news conference at Bend City Hall on Thursday evening.
Chief Krantz said police officers had completed active-shooter training at a high school in August and regularly prepared for such emergencies. However, he acknowledged that no amount of preparation could erase the pain caused by an incident of this scale.
“There are not really any words I can say to any of you,” Krantz said, acknowledging the suffering of the community.
Superintendent Cook praised school employees for their efforts to protect children during the emergency. He said the community was struggling to comprehend an event that many had hoped would never happen in their own town.
“We are heartbroken. We are horrified,” Cook said, describing the shooting as a tragedy that had deeply affected the community.
Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler also shared her condolences and announced plans for a community vigil on Thursday night. She encouraged residents to support the families, students, teachers and school employees affected by the violence.
Governor Orders Flags to Be Lowered
Governor Kotek said she had visited Silver Rail Elementary School less than a year earlier, where she had met students and parents. She praised the school staff and acknowledged the emotional toll on the community member who confronted the suspected gunman.
Kotek said her thoughts were with the person who intervened, recognising the difficult circumstances surrounding those actions.
The governor ordered flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff throughout Friday, October 16, in memory of those who died.
Lawmakers from Oregon and across the country, along with gun-control advocates, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the wider Bend community. They also praised emergency responders and renewed calls for schools to be safe environments for children.
Some officials and advocates called for stronger gun laws, arguing that additional measures were needed to help prevent future shootings.
As investigators continue examining the attack, the Bend community faces the difficult task of supporting grieving families, injured victims and students affected by the violence.
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