Four people, including three children, were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, 15 October, after a 16-year-old suspect opened fire inside the building before being fatally shot by an armed community member, authorities said.
The victims were children aged five, eight and 11, and a teacher, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz told a news conference. A seven-year-old pupil and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to hospital with critical injuries.
Police said the suspect forced entry into Silver Rail Elementary School by firing through locked doors. Authorities have not released the suspect’s identity or established a motive for the attack.
Community member intervenes
According to Krantz, the community member saw the suspect entering the school and pursued him inside before shooting him.
Emergency services received the first call at 12.59pm local time from a person who reported being shot at while inside a vehicle near the school. Further emergency calls followed, reporting that an armed suspect had entered the building.
Officers arrived at approximately 1.02pm, around three minutes after the initial call. Police subsequently entered the school, confirmed the suspect was dead and assessed the casualties.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised the community member for intervening, saying the actions had helped prevent further loss of life.
“No parent should have to have this kind of day, and no community should have to live through this kind of day,” Kotek said, describing the profound grief facing families and the wider community.
Police launch investigation
Krantz said the incident would require a lengthy investigation. He noted that Bend police officers had completed a full day of active-shooter training in August.
“Unfortunately, this is something we train for on a regular basis, and we must,” he said.
Silver Rail Elementary School serves pupils from kindergarten through fifth grade, generally aged five to 11, and has approximately 450 pupils and 40 staff members, according to officials.
The attack has left the community mourning the deaths of three young pupils and a teacher, while two critically injured victims remain in need of medical care.
Shooting renews debate over US gun violence
The attack has again drawn attention to the recurring problem of school shootings in the United States, where disagreements over gun ownership and firearm regulation remain a central political issue.
Gabrielle Giffords, a former congresswoman who survived a mass shooting in 2011 and became a prominent gun-control advocate, expressed heartbreak over the killings and called on political leaders to act.
“This cannot continue to be a reality in our country. Leaders at every level must step up and act,” Giffords said.
Gun-rights advocates have argued that allowing teachers to carry firearms could help defend schools, while gun-control advocates have called for stronger measures to prevent shootings.
Investigators are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack, including the suspect’s motive and any connection he may have had to the school. Authorities have not yet released further details about those questions.