Oregon school shooting: police investigate Bend attack that killed three children and a teacher
A 16-year-old gunman forced his way into Silver Rail elementary school in Bend, Oregon, killing three children and a teacher before an armed bystander shot him dead, police say.
At a glance
- A 16-year-old opened fire at Silver Rail elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, killing three children and a teacher.
- An armed bystander pursued the gunman into the school and shot him dead; five people died in total, including the suspect.
- Bend police have not named the victims, the shooter or the bystander, and all schools in Bend and La Pine were closed on Friday.
Police in Bend, Oregon, are investigating a shooting at Silver Rail elementary school in which a 16-year-old gunman killed three children and a teacher on Thursday before an armed bystander shot him dead.
The three children who died were aged five, eight and 11, authorities said. A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were hospitalised with critical injuries. As of Friday morning, officials had not named the victims, the shooter or the bystander who stopped him, though Bend police said all the victims' families had been notified.
How the attack unfolded
Bend police chief Mike Krantz said the first emergency call came at 12.59pm on Thursday, from a person in a vehicle who reported being shot at multiple times by someone with a long gun. Within minutes, dispatchers received dozens of 911 calls saying a shooter had entered the school.
The school went into lockdown at 1.01pm and the first officers arrived at 1.02pm, Krantz said. Moments later an officer reported that the suspect had been shot by a community member who saw him enter the building, pursued him inside and engaged him. Officers confirmed the suspect was dead, cleared the school to check for further threats and gave emergency aid to the victims. Five people in total died, including the suspect.
Krantz said the investigation would be long and that a large police presence would remain at the school for the next few days. The FBI's local office is on the scene assisting local law enforcement, its director Kash Patel said.
The Associated Press reported on Friday, citing a law enforcement official briefed on the shooting who spoke anonymously, that the shooter used a pump-action shotgun purchased by his mother. Police said the gunman forced his way into the school at around 1pm by shooting at locked doors.
Community mourns
Bend, a city of about 100,000 residents, held a candlelit vigil in Drake Park on Thursday night. Hundreds of people gathered as the sun set, along with mayor Melanie Kebler and Oregon governor Tina Kotek.
Kebler said she was struggling to make sense of a loss that felt unimaginable. Kotek said her heart was broken and praised the person who "heroically intervened to stop further loss of life", telling him her thoughts were with him. All schools in Bend and neighbouring La Pine were closed on Friday.
Bend-La Pine schools superintendent Steven Cook said the district was stunned and heartbroken by a senseless tragedy, and US education secretary Linda McMahon said she was heartbroken by the shooting and sent her prayers to students, staff and families.
Source: The Guardian.
Questions and answers
- How many people died in the Bend, Oregon school shooting?
- Five people died, including the suspect: three children aged five, eight and 11, and a teacher. A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were hospitalised with critical injuries.
- Who stopped the shooter at Silver Rail elementary school?
- Police chief Mike Krantz said a community member saw the 16-year-old suspect enter the school, pursued him inside and shot him dead. Authorities have not named the bystander.
- What weapon was used in the Bend school shooting?
- The Associated Press reported, citing an anonymous law enforcement official, that the shooter used a pump-action shotgun purchased by his mother. Police said he shot at locked doors to get inside.
