Children Among Dead In Oregon Elementary School Shooting, Bystander Takes Out Gunman

At least four people, including three children, were killed Thursday afternoon in a shooting at an elementary school in central Oregon. The gunman is also dead.

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Police said the 16-year-old male suspect opened fire on a vehicle with a long gun outside Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend before entering the building. Authorities said he forced his way into the school by shooting at locked doors. An armed Good Samaritan intervened before police arrived, killing the teenager inside the school. A responding officer said the community member saw the suspect enter the school, pursued him inside, and engaged him.

The three children killed were ages five, eight, and 11. An adult teacher was also killed, according to police. At this stage of the investigation, law enforcement does not know if the gunman had any connection to the school.

The horrifying ordeal appeared to unfold and end within minutes, thanks to a heroic bystander who stopped the shooter in his tracks, even as police responded swiftly.

“We received the first report at 12:59 of a shooter outside of the building shooting into a car, and within about a minute, we were receiving multiple 911 calls from within the school. Our officers were on scene at 1:02, and the shooter was down seconds later,” Sheila Miller, Bend Police Department’s communications manager, told local media. 

During an evening briefing, police declined to specify the type of long gun used in the shooting or the number of rounds fired.

Oregon’s Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek said her heart is “broken” and praised the Good Samaritan who jumped into action.

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“And to the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life, your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well,” she said.

FBI Director Kash Patel said federal agents are on the scene. “We will make every resource they need available,” Patel said in a statement.

Bend, about a three-hour drive from Portland, has nearly 100,000 residents. Silver Rail is a public K-5 school serving 438 students.

A reunification center was organized at a local church. Police urged the public to avoid the area. Another media briefing is scheduled for Friday. 

“It’s devastating,” Miller told reporters, wiping away tears. “Apologies, it’s devastating, and our hearts go out to this community, and we ask our community to really work together and come together at this time.”

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This is a developing story.