16-Year-Old Gunman Kills Three Children and Teacher at Oregon Elementary School
A 16-year-old boy killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, before a local resident shot him dead.
16-Year-Old Gunman Kills Three Children and Teacher at Oregon Elementary School
A 16-year-old boy opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon, killing three students and one teacher before a local resident intervened and fatally shot the attacker, according to ERR.
Police chief Mike Krantz said the unidentified assailant forced his way into the building by shooting at locked doors around 12:59 p.m. local time. A bystander who witnessed the initial gunfire pursued the teen into the school, engaged him in a shootout, and killed him. Officers reached the scene approximately three minutes afterward and confirmed the attacker was dead.
The deceased victims included children aged 5, 8, and 11. The age of the slain teacher has not been disclosed. A seven-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher were transported to a hospital in critical condition. Authorities have not indicated whether the shooter had any personal ties to the school.
The first emergency call came from someone reporting that a stranger was firing a long gun at a red van. Photographs from the scene showed the vehicle riddled with bullet holes. Minutes later, callers reported that the gunman had entered the school. The building was locked down at the time, and students reportedly used Apple smartwatches to communicate with parents waiting outside.
Local school district superintendent Steven Cook expressed shock and grief, stating that no words could adequately capture the community’s sorrow. Bend schools remained closed on Friday as officials said the community needed time to recover.
Silver Rail Elementary enrolls roughly 450 children and employs more than 40 adults. Data from the K-12 school shooting database recorded 235 such incidents in the United States last year and at least 140 so far this year.
Oregon state law prohibits anyone under 18 from purchasing a firearm. Minors may possess a weapon only with parental consent and for specific purposes such as hunting. Officials did not reveal the type of weapon used or the number of rounds fired.
Source: ERR