Three children and a teacher were killed on Thursday in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, officials said. Another child and teacher were critically injured, and the shooter was shot dead by an armed bystander. Police identified the shooter as a 16-year-old boy who entered the school by shooting at locked doors with a long gun.
He was pursued and killed inside the building by a bystander who engaged him, Chief Mike Krantz said at a news conference. The chief did not name the victims, shooter, or bystander. All schools in Bend and La Pine were closed for Friday.
The shooting began around 1 p.m. Pacific time after multiple 911 calls, with the first coming at 12:59 p.m. from a person in a car who reported being shot at. The school went into lockdown at 1:01 p.m., and officers arrived within a minute. The gunman was found dead after room-by-room searches, and victims were located.
The deceased children were aged 5, 8, and 11. A 7-year-old and a 54-year-old teacher remain in critical condition. About 400 students and 40 staff attend Silver Rail.
Oregon has stronger gun laws than most states, ranking 12th nationally per Everytown. Bump stocks are banned, and future restrictions on high-capacity magazines and background checks are pending. Authorities declined to disclose weapon type or round count pending investigation.
Gov. Tina Kotek praised the bystander as a hero.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing