On Thursday afternoon, a young armed assailant opened fire at an elementary school in Oregon, killing three young students and a teacher.
The unidentified attacker—reported to be 16 years old—fired shots at the Silver Rail Elementary School in the city of Bend on Thursday afternoon. He killed three children—aged five, eight, and eleven—as well as a teacher, whose age has not been disclosed.
The assailant was subsequently killed by a bystander who, according to authorities, had pursued him into the building.
A seven-year-old child and another teacher, aged 54, have been transported to a local hospital and remain in critical condition.
The motive for the shooting remains unclear. As of Thursday night, authorities had not confirmed whether the suspect knew anyone at the school or had previously attended the institution.
"Today is a horrific day for our community," said Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler. "Our hearts are broken as we mourn this tragedy and its profound impact on so many—especially the children, families, teachers, and school staff whose lives have been changed forever."
"Schools should be safe places where children can learn and feel secure," Kebler stated, while urging the community to support one another.
"We are with you." "We share in your grief, and together we will get through this difficult time."
According to sources, this tragic incident began when a man driving a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck in the school parking lot spotted a teenager approaching the building while carrying a long gun.
The driver confronted the teenager, who then opened fire on the man and his vehicle, shattering the rear window and leaving six large bullet holes in the truck.
At this point, the alleged attacker reportedly threw his gun over the school fence and climbed over himself to enter the premises—prompting the driver to call Deschutes County dispatchers at approximately 12:59 PM.
Within just one minute, the Bend Police Department issued an alert, responding to a critical incident.
As officers rushed toward the school, the suspect attempted to force his way into the building by firing at locked doors. Following this, dispatchers began receiving "dozens" of emergency calls, Police Chief Mike Krantz stated during a press conference on Thursday night.
Police arrived at the scene at 1:02 PM, and moments later, the lone attacker was killed by an unidentified local individual.
Following the shooting, the school was placed on lockdown while police officers conducted a room-by-room search to clear the building, Miller reported. There were between 400 and 450 students and over 40 staff members present at the school.
Bulletproof Officers wearing tactical gear and carrying assault rifles were later seen peering into vehicles parked on the school grounds, while parents, teachers, and children gathered together—hugging one another and wiping tears from their faces.
During the investigation, police had urged the public to stay away from the area; however, upon hearing the reports, a large number of anxious parents gathered outside the school.
These distressed parents were later directed to the nearby Journey Church to reunite with their loved ones, as authorities prioritized the evacuation of the youngest children.
Mandi Corley, the aunt of a fifth-grade student at the school, told NBC News while waiting for her nephew that he was "terrified" following the shooting.
She explained that he had a cell phone and managed to tell his mother that he was safe, but added, "He was obviously very, very scared and just wanted to go home."
Steven and Angela Nichols shared that they had gotten their eight-year-old daughter, Charlotte, ready for "picture day" that Thursday.
Just a few hours later, they found themselves rushing toward the school.
"The whole area was swarming with police officers who had arrived from everywhere," Angela said. "You see personnel standing right in front of you in tactical gear, carrying rifles. You are terrified, wondering: Is my child okay?" "You have no idea."
The couple was later reunited with their daughter, but Angela described it as "the worst three hours of our lives."
Meanwhile, federal agents from the FBI’s Portland field office and officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have arrived at the scene to assist with the investigation. FBI Director Kash Patel has pledged to provide local law enforcement agencies with "every resource" they may need.
It was later revealed that the suspect used a pump-action shotgun that had been purchased by his mother, a law enforcement source told the Associated Press.
During a press conference on Thursday night, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek commended a community member who "bravely intervened" and noted that she had visited the school about a year ago.
"My heart is absolutely broken today," she said. "No parent should ever have to experience a day like this."
She added that now is a time for the community to grieve.
"There will be a time to address all the questions currently on our minds and to find further ways to prevent such incidents in the future," said Democrat Kotek. "But for now, let us hold each other close in our grief and spread as much love as we can in the world."
Steven Cook, Superintendent of Bend-La Pine Schools, also described Thursday’s incident as "an unimaginable tragedy."
Visibly shaken by the event, he stated at a press conference, "No community should have to go through what we are experiencing right now. I have no words for what this community is feeling at this moment."
Police spokesperson Sheila Miller had made a similar comment earlier in the day.
"This is something we never want to see happen in Bend," she said, her voice choking with emotion.
"Our hearts go out to this community, and we urge everyone to come together and stand united at this time."
The school district has now cancelled all classes, activities, and athletic events scheduled for Friday. Following this tragedy, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum also announced that she is suspending all of her campaign activities, stating that she is "focused on standing with and supporting the community as it responds to this tragedy."
"I feel this deep in my soul," she said in a statement. "Our entire community feels it. Our entire state feels it. And the whole nation should, too."
"Our children should be doing arts and crafts at school, not using desks as shields against bullets. They should be making friends, not mourning them. This is every parent's worst fear."
"My heart, my prayers, and everything I have are with the families at Silver Rail Elementary. When will this end?"
Senator Ron Wyden also stated: "My heart is with the victims of today’s shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School and their loved ones, who are now facing the aftermath of yet another school shooting in America."
He added, "Once again, we are forced to ask: how many more school shootings must occur before Republicans agree to take action to stop gun violence?"
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