A 16-year-old gunman killed three children and a teacher at a Bend, Oregon, school. A bystander shot him.
Three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, and a teacher were killed Thursday at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, when a 16-year-old Bend resident opened fire, police said. A community member who pursued the shooter into the school shot and killed him, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said.
The first 911 call came just before 1 p.m. from a person in a vehicle outside the school who reported being shot at by someone with a long gun, according to police. The suspect forced his way into the building by shooting at the locked doors, Krantz said. A 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend with critical injuries. Police have not released the names of the victims or the shooter, and Krantz said the victims’ families have been notified. He did not say what kind of gun was used, and no motive has been given.
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steve Cook told families and staff the community was heartbroken. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek praised the school’s staff, parents, first responders and the community member who stopped the suspect. Families were directed to a reunification point at Journey Church, and a prayer vigil was held Thursday night. The FBI’s Portland team responded to the scene, FBI Director Kash Patel said. Sen. Ron Wyden said his heart goes out to the victims and their families, who now face the consequences of “yet another school shooting in America.”
Bend is about 100 miles southeast of Portland.
This report is based on information from NBC News, Al Jazeera, KATU, KTVZ and Yahoo News.