Three Children, Teacher Killed in US Primary School Shooting
A 16-year-old suspect forced his way into Silver Rail Elementary School in Oregon before a bystander shot him dead, police say; two other victims remain in critical condition.
Three children and a teacher have been killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, in the United States, according to local police.
The suspect, identified by police as a 16-year-old local boy whose name has not been released, was also killed after a community member confronted him inside the school on Thursday afternoon.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the teenager forced his way into the school by firing at locked doors.
Bystander Confronts Suspect
Police said the first emergency call was received at 12:59 p.m. local time after a caller reported that an unknown person was shooting at their vehicle with a long gun.
A red truck photographed at the scene reportedly had bullet holes.
Minutes later, emergency dispatchers received additional calls reporting that the suspect had entered the school.
According to Krantz, a bystander witnessed the attack, pursued the teenager into the building and shot him dead.
Police officers arrived approximately three minutes after the initial alert. They confirmed that the suspect had been killed before searching the school.
Victims Include Children Aged Five, Eight and 11
The three children killed in the attack were aged five, eight and 11, police said.
A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to hospital in critical condition.
Authorities have not released the identities of the victims or established whether the suspect had any connection to the school.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.
School District Expresses Grief
Steven Cook, the senior administrative official of the local school district, described the incident as a devastating tragedy.
“We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy,” Cook said in a statement, adding that the community was struggling to express its grief.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised the bystander who intervened, describing the action as heroic.
Speaking at a media briefing alongside other officials, Kotek also acknowledged the emotional burden the individual might face after confronting the attacker.
Police Continue Investigation
Investigators are working to establish the circumstances that led to the shooting, including whether the suspect had any prior connection to Silver Rail Elementary School.
Police have not released further details about the teenager or the victims.
The attack has left the Bend community mourning the deaths of the children and their teacher, while authorities continue to investigate how the suspect gained access to the school.
