Four Reported Dead in Oregon Elementary School Shooting, Teenage Suspect Killed
By Haris Qureshi — SCN NEWS
BEND — Three children and an adult were reported killed in a shooting at an elementary school in the U.S. state of Oregon on Thursday, while a teenage suspect was also shot dead, authorities and U.S. media reported, in an attack that sent students into lockdown and prompted a major emergency response.
The shooting occurred shortly before 1 p.m. at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, a city in central Oregon about 175 miles southeast of Portland. CBS News, citing law enforcement sources, reported that three children and one adult had been killed, in addition to the suspected gunman, who was identified by sources as a 16-year-old boy.
Police confirmed that the suspect was dead and that multiple people, including children, had been shot, but had not released an official final death toll. The Associated Press, citing two law enforcement officials, reported that at least five people were believed dead, although the officials cautioned that the count was preliminary.
The attack began at approximately 12:59 p.m. when emergency dispatchers received a report that an armed person had fired into a vehicle outside the school, according to Bend Police. Within the following minute, additional emergency calls reported that a gunman had entered the building and begun shooting.
Police officers reached the school at 1:02 p.m., three minutes after the initial call. Shortly afterward, responding officers reported that the suspect had been shot and killed inside the building.
Authorities said the fatal shot may have been fired by a bystander, but investigators had not established who shot the suspect. Police did not immediately provide details about the weapon used, the suspect's connection to the school or a possible motive.
Sheila Miller, a spokesperson for the Bend Police Department, told reporters that children were among the victims and that investigators were working to establish the full extent of the casualties.
At least two people were transported to St. Charles Bend hospital, police said. Their conditions were not immediately available, and officials had not clarified whether they were included in the reported death toll.
Emergency responders secured the school while law enforcement officers conducted a classroom-by-classroom evacuation. Students were taken by buses to Journey Church, where parents and guardians were directed to reunite with their children.
The operation unfolded as families gathered for information and authorities urged residents to avoid the area around the school to allow emergency vehicles and investigators to operate.
Silver Rail Elementary serves children from kindergarten through fifth grade, generally between the ages of five and 11. The school had approximately 459 students enrolled during the previous academic year, according to Oregon education records.
The shooting prompted an immediate response from local and federal authorities. FBI Director Kash Patel said federal agents were assisting local investigators and that the bureau would make additional resources available as needed.
Investigators were examining the sequence of events leading up to the shooting, including the initial gunfire outside the building and the suspect's movements inside the school.
A central question was how the suspect was killed. Although police acknowledged the possibility that a bystander had fired the fatal shot, authorities had not confirmed that account or identified anyone responsible.
The identity of the suspected gunman had not been officially released. Law enforcement sources cited by CBS News described him as 16 years old, but police had not publicly confirmed his age.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek expressed grief over the shooting and urged residents to support the affected families and the wider Bend community.
U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter, a Democrat from Oregon, also condemned the attack and called for efforts to protect children in schools.
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook said the district was devastated by the violence and was concentrating on supporting students, staff and emergency personnel.
The district canceled classes, activities and athletic events scheduled for Friday, October 16, as the community began responding to the tragedy.
The shooting renewed concerns about school security and gun violence in the United States, where attacks on educational institutions have repeatedly prompted debates over firearm access, emergency preparedness and measures to protect students.
Schools across the country have adopted a range of security procedures, including controlled entrances, emergency alerts and lockdown training. The effectiveness of those measures and the circumstances under which attackers gain access to school buildings remain subjects of public debate.
Thursday's attack occurred during the school day at an institution serving young children, adding to the distress experienced by families awaiting confirmation that their children were safe.
Authorities had not established whether the suspect specifically targeted the school or any of the victims. Investigators were expected to review witness accounts, physical evidence and available recordings as they worked to reconstruct the shooting.
The reported death toll remained subject to change as police continued identifying victims and notifying their families. Officials urged the public to rely on confirmed information rather than speculation circulating online.
By Thursday evening, the suspect's death had been confirmed, federal investigators had joined the inquiry and the school district had suspended the following day's activities.
The immediate focus remained on supporting survivors and victims' families while authorities sought to determine what led to the attack and whether anyone else was involved.
Police said additional information would be released as the investigation progressed.