Oregon school shooting leaves four dead plus teen gunman

Four killed and teenager dead in Bend shooting

A shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon left four victims and the suspected gunman dead. Law enforcement sources told multiple news outlets that the dead include three children and one adult. The rapid sequence of events began at 12:59 p.m. local time, when emergency dispatchers received a report that an unknown man had shot into a car outside the school building along SE Stone Creek Lane. Within a minute, Deschutes County Dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting that a person had entered the school and begun shooting.

Bend Police officers arrived at the scene at 1:02 p.m., just two minutes after the initial emergency call. Seconds later, officers reported that the suspect had been shot and killed inside the building. Sheila Miller, communications manager for the Bend Police Department, stated that the shooter may have been a bystander, though authorities are still investigating who fired the fatal shot at the gunman. Multiple law enforcement sources identified the shooter as a 16-year-old male, but police have not formally released his name or detailed a motive. At least two people were transported to St. Charles Medical Center for treatment, while officials continue to verify the exact number of injured.

Rapid police response and school evacuation

The tragedy at the kindergarten-through-fifth-grade facility prompted an immediate lockdown as police vehicles, ambulances, and a fire truck swarmed the grounds. The school had an enrollment of 459 students as of last year, according to the Oregon Department of Education. Officers began the painstaking process of going room by room to evacuate roughly 450 children and 40 staff members remaining inside the building. Pausing during a media briefing to control her emotions, Miller described the operation to reporters: We’re in the process at this time of going room by room and evacuating each of the people who are in that school. ... This is the kind of thing we never want to see happen in Bend. It’s devastating.

As emergency responders secured the campus, a large crowd of parents and concerned community members gathered outside to wait for updates. Evacuated students and staff members were transported via Bend-La Pine Schools buses to a designated family reunification point set up at Journey Church, located at 61303 S Highway 97 near Goodwill and Dairy Queen. Local law enforcement advised residents to avoid the surrounding area for the foreseeable future as a large investigative presence remains active.

Federal and state officials mobilize resources

Federal law enforcement agencies quickly moved to support local authorities as the investigation expanded. FBI Director Kash Patel announced on X that federal agents were on the scene assisting local partners, stating, We will make every resource they need available. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oregon State Police also joined the ongoing probe alongside the FBI and the Bend Police Department.

Elected officials expressed shock and grief over the violence. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek stated on X that she was closely monitoring the situation and expressed gratitude to first responders, writing, As we learn more about the tragic event at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend today, we must come together and support each other, neighbor to neighbor, Oregonian to Oregonian. No community should have to live through this day. Senator Jeff Merkley added on social media, My team and I are closely monitoring reports of an active shooter situation at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend. As details continue to come out, my heart is with the Bend community and all of the students and families affected. No one should have to fear violence at school. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon also weighed in, asking how many schools must be shot up before Republicans agree to act to curb gun violence.

Community grief and district-wide closures

Local educational leaders voiced deep sorrow as the community absorbed the loss. Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook released a statement addressing the tragedy: We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy. We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and to everyone affected by this violence. No words can adequately express the grief our community is experiencing. Our immediate priorities are caring for our students and staff and assisting law enforcement and emergency responders.

• Four fatalities confirmed, including three children and one adult
• The 16-year-old teenage gunman dead at the scene
• At least two individuals transported to St. Charles Medical Center for treatment
• Students and staff evacuated from Silver Rail Elementary to Journey Church

In response to the shooting, the Bend-La Pine school district announced that all classes, school activities, and athletic events are canceled tomorrow. The community's history with mass violence includes a 2022 incident where a 20-year-old gunman killed two men and wounded two others at a local Safeway grocery store before taking his own life. City officials scheduled another news conference to provide updates on the ongoing investigation at 5:30 p.m. local time at the City Council Chamber.