Three children and teacher killed in Bend, Oregon school shooting

A 16-year-old gunman forced his way into Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, killing three children and a teacher. A community member fatally shot the suspect.

Gunman kills three children and teacher at Oregon elementary school

Three children aged 5, 8 and 11, and one teacher, are dead after a 16-year-old forced his way into Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon and opened fire, abcnews.com reports.

The suspected shooter was fatally shot by a community member who witnessed the teenager entering the school grounds. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz confirmed the details at a news conference Thursday evening.

A 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were also transported to hospital with critical injuries, police said.

The sequence of events began at 12:59 p.m. PT, when police received a call from a driver who reported being shot at multiple times by a person carrying a long gun. Within minutes, the Deschutes County dispatch centre began receiving multiple 911 calls reporting that a shooter had entered the school.

Krantz said the initial investigation indicates the shooter forced his way inside by firing at locked doors. At 1:01 p.m., the school was placed into lockdown. One minute later, officers arrived on the scene and found that the suspect had already been stopped by a bystander who had pursued him and engaged him after seeing him enter the building.

Police have not publicly identified the suspected shooter, saying only that he was a Bend resident. Authorities have not confirmed whether he attended the school or had any prior connection to it. Details about the community member who intervened have not yet been released, though police said further information would likely be made available on Friday.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek thanked teachers, staff and first responders who rushed to the scene, and credited the community member who she said "heroically intervened to stop further loss of life."

Following the shooting, officers evacuated the school room by room. A family reunification site was established at a nearby church.

Eyewitness Caleb Weis, who was riding his motorcycle near the school at the time, described the law enforcement response to ABC News as appearing "highly trained and highly prepared." He noted a noticeable absence of bystanders filming the scene. "Just a kind of a shock factor and an immense amount of respect for the law enforcement, first responders," Weis said.

Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook described the attack as an "unthinkable tragedy," adding: "We are heartbroken. We are horrified." All classes, activities and athletic events across Bend-La Pine Schools were cancelled for Friday.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the agency was on the scene assisting with the investigation. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also en route to the school, according to a source.

Source: Times of Malta