A 16-year-old gunman killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, before an armed community member pursued him into the building and fatally shot him, according to police.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

An armed bystander fatally shot a 16-year-old gunman Thursday after the teenager opened fire at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, killing three children and a teacher and critically injuring two others, authorities confirmed. The intervention ended the attack before responding police officers entered the building, prompting praise from state officials for the community member’s actions.

The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School on Oct. 15 claimed the lives of children ages 5, 8 and 11, along with an adult teacher, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz announced during an evening news conference. A 7-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher were transported to St. Charles Bend hospital with critical injuries. Five people died at the scene, including the suspected gunman.

Investigators identified the attacker as a 16-year-old Bend resident who was reportedly carrying a shotgun. Federal law enforcement sources told Fox News that the individual who stopped him possessed a concealed carry permit, although Krantz said local investigators had not independently confirmed the person’s permit status or details about the firearm used.

According to police accounts published by CBS News, the attack began outside the school shortly before 1 p.m. when the teenager allegedly fired several shots at someone inside a vehicle. The gunman then breached the school by firing at locked doors before entering the building.

The first emergency call reached Deschutes County dispatchers at 12:59 p.m. Additional calls followed as witnesses reported an armed individual inside the school. An emergency alert summoning law enforcement officers was transmitted at 1 p.m., the school entered lockdown at 1:01 p.m., and the first officers arrived at 1:02 p.m.

Before police reached the attacker, a nearby community member reportedly saw him entering the school, followed him inside and confronted him.

“An officer reported that the suspect had been shot by a community member who had seen the suspect enter the school and pursued him into the school and engaged him,” Krantz said.

The gunman was pronounced dead inside the building. Authorities have not publicly identified the bystander or explained the precise circumstances of the confrontation.

Federal law enforcement sources described the intervention as instrumental in preventing additional casualties, with one telling Fox News that the armed individual “definitely prevented more deaths.”

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek praised the community member “who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life,” acknowledging both the intervention and its emotional consequences.

“Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well,” Kotek said.

The initial police response and developing emergency drew a large deployment of officers from Bend police, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Redmond police, Oregon State Police and federal agencies.

“Our officers entered the building and confirmed the suspect was dead,” Krantz said. “They cleared the school to ensure there were no additional threats, and then rendered emergency aid to the victims.”

Officers systematically searched classrooms and other areas to ensure no additional attackers were present. Students and employees were evacuated room by room and transported by Bend-La Pine school buses to Journey Church, where families gathered for reunification.

During the earlier stages of the emergency, Bend police spokesperson Sheila Miller confirmed that children were among the victims but could not provide an accurate casualty count.

“We don’t have a number at this point. We know children are among the victims,” Miller said.

Describing the evacuation operation, she added, “We’re in the process at this time of going room by room and evacuating each of the people who are in that school. … This is the kind of thing we never want to see happen in Bend. It’s devastating.”

By Thursday evening, authorities had notified the families of those killed. Investigators had not established a motive or determined whether the teenage suspect had previously attended Silver Rail Elementary or personally knew anyone at the school.

The FBI’s Portland field office confirmed its involvement in the investigation, pledging, “We will make every resource they need available.”

Investigators also began examining the shooter’s movements, how he obtained the weapon and the circumstances surrounding the armed citizen’s intervention. The school grounds and surrounding neighborhood remained secured as authorities collected evidence and interviewed witnesses.

Krantz said every Bend police officer had completed a full day of active-threat training at a local high school in August, preparation intended to improve the department’s response to emergencies involving armed attackers.

“Unfortunately, this is something we train for on a regular basis, and we must,” he said.

The chief said a significant police presence would remain at the school for several days.

“There are not really any words I can say to any of you that will make this better,” Krantz told residents, encouraging them to “lean on each other and be there for each other.”

Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook described the killings as an “unthinkable tragedy” and said the district was “heartbroken” and “horrified.”

“This is the kind of thing you hear about in other places, and pray that it never happens here. And it has happened here today,” Cook said. “It happened to our children, to our teachers and to our families.”

He became emotional while acknowledging the actions of school employees who attempted to protect children during the attack.

“You did what no one should ever be asked to do,” Cook said. “I am so grateful beyond words for your efforts.”

Silver Rail Elementary serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade and had 459 enrolled children during the 2024-25 academic year, according to Oregon Department of Education figures. The school is located in a residential neighborhood of Bend, a Central Oregon city more than 100 miles southeast of Portland.

The shooting prompted the cancellation of classes, athletics and other activities throughout the Bend-La Pine district Friday. Crisis counselors were scheduled to be available at the Central Library for students, parents, employees and other community members.

The community’s response to the killings included an evening vigil in Bend, where families and residents gathered to remember the victims.

Mayor Melanie Kebler condemned the attack and emphasized that children should never face violence in their classrooms.

“A school should be a safe place where children can learn and feel secure. What happened today should never happen,” Kebler said.

Kotek echoed the community’s grief, telling reporters, “This is a horrible day. No parent should have to have this kind of day, and no community should have to live through this kind of day.”

Oregon’s congressional delegation also responded. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., expressed support for the victims and their families, writing, “No one should have to fear violence at school.”

Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., whose district includes Bend, called the shooting “every parent’s worst fear.”

“Our babies are supposed to do arts and crafts at school, not use their desks as cover from gunfire,” Bynum said. “My heart and my prayers and everything else I got is with the families at Silver Rail Elementary. When will it end?”

Additional statements from Oregon officials reflected the widespread concern following the attack.

Authorities planned another briefing Friday afternoon as investigators continued reconstructing the shooting and examining the teenager’s background. Officials had not released the victims’ identities or established whether the suspect had any previous connection to the school.

Cook urged families to support one another as the district began addressing the consequences of the attack.

“Please hold your children. Hold your loved ones tight tonight,” he said. “Let them talk. Let them cry.”

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