Three children and a teacher have been killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Oregon, United States, after a 16-year-old gunman forced his way into the building and opened fire.
The attack happened on Thursday, 15 October 2026, at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, leaving another child and a teacher critically injured. Police said the suspected gunman was shot dead by an armed member of the public who followed him into the school.
Authorities identified the children who died only by their ages — five, eight and 11 — while a seven-year-old pupil and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to St Charles Medical Center in Bend for treatment.
The identities of the victims had not been publicly released as investigators continued examining the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Police said the teenage suspect was a local resident, but his identity and possible connection to the school remained unclear.
Families leave a meeting in the community after the shooting Credit: Joe Kline/AP
How the Oregon school shooting unfolded
According to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz, the first emergency call came at approximately 12.59pm local time.
A person sitting in a vehicle outside the school reported that someone armed with a long gun had fired towards the car.
Within the following minute, emergency dispatchers began receiving several calls reporting that a gunman had entered the school and was shooting.
Investigators said the suspect forced his way through locked doors before entering the building.
Police immediately dispatched officers, and the school was placed under lockdown as teachers and pupils sought safety.
Officers reached the scene at approximately 1.02pm, just three minutes after the initial emergency call.
By the time they entered, the suspected attacker had been shot.
Police later confirmed that a community member who witnessed the teenager entering the school had followed him inside and fatally shot him.
The authorities have not publicly identified that individual.
The rapid response ended the immediate threat, but four victims had already been killed and two others seriously injured.
Armed bystander credited with stopping teenage gunman
Authorities credited the intervention of a member of the public with bringing the attack to an end.
During a news conference, police explained that the individual had seen the suspect entering the school and followed him before confronting him.
The bystander then fired at the attacker, who died at the scene.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek thanked the individual for intervening, acknowledging the emotional impact of witnessing and responding to such violence.
However, investigators have not disclosed the precise circumstances of the confrontation, including how many shots were fired or whether the bystander had any previous connection to the school.
Authorities are also investigating how the teenager obtained the weapon and what motivated him to attack an elementary school.
According to Associated Press reporting, a law enforcement official said the weapon was a pump-action shotgun purchased by the suspect’s mother.
That detail had not been presented as a final investigative finding by police.
Investigators have not established whether the suspect had previously attended Silver Rail Elementary School or knew anyone there.
Parents rush to school as police evacuate pupils
The shooting triggered panic among families after reports of gunfire spread through the neighbourhood.
Police established a family reunification centre at Journey Church, where parents and guardians were directed to collect their children.
Hundreds of people gathered at the centre while emergency services worked to account for pupils and staff.
Officers spent several hours checking classrooms and other areas of the school to ensure there were no further threats.
Children were escorted from the building and transported to a designated location where they could be reunited with their families.
One resident, Erin Johnson, told Oregon Public Broadcasting that she heard what appeared to be gunshots before a neighbour began screaming.
Johnson said her neighbour had children attending the school and described the experience as heartbreaking.
Silver Rail Elementary serves more than 400 pupils, with children attending kindergarten through fifth grade.
The school is located in a residential area of Bend, a city in central Oregon with a population of approximately 100,000.
For many families, Thursday’s events transformed what should have been an ordinary school afternoon into an emergency.
Oregon schools shut as community mourns victims
Bend-La Pine Schools announced that classes across the district would be cancelled on Friday, 16 October, following the shooting.
The closure was intended to give pupils, staff and families time to respond to the tragedy while support arrangements were put in place.
District Superintendent Steven Cook expressed sorrow over the deaths and said the immediate priority was caring for affected children and staff while assisting law enforcement.
Local authorities also began arranging mental health support for those affected.
Community members gathered at Drake Park on Thursday evening for a vigil, where residents offered prayers, shared their grief and remembered the victims.
Flowers, candles and other tributes were placed near the school as residents struggled to understand what had happened.
Governor Kotek expressed her condolences to the families and praised those who helped during the emergency.
The shooting has left the wider school community facing difficult questions about security, access to firearms and how vulnerable children can be protected.
FBI joins investigation into school attack
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting local authorities as they work to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Investigators are examining the teenager’s background, access to the firearm and any possible connection to the school.
Police are also reconstructing the sequence of events, including the shooting outside the building and the suspect’s movements after entering.
The attack has renewed attention on gun violence in American schools, where shootings have repeatedly raised concerns about the safety of pupils and teachers.
However, the exact circumstances surrounding the Silver Rail attack remain under investigation, and authorities have not announced a motive.
For the families of the victims, the immediate concern remains the loss of four lives and the condition of the two people receiving hospital treatment.
The tragedy has also left hundreds of pupils, parents and teachers dealing with the emotional consequences of the violence.
As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to provide further information about the suspect, the weapon used and the actions of the individual who stopped the attack.
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