Five people, including three children and a 16-year-old suspect, have died following a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon.
Authorities were alerted to the incident around 1 p.m. local time after receiving an initial report at 12:59 p.m. of a shooter firing into a car outside the facility. Emergency crews swiftly transported the injured to a local hospital. Within a minute of the initial call, law enforcement received multiple 911 reports indicating an active shooter was inside the school building.
Bend Police arrived at the scene by 1:02 p.m., just two minutes after being notified, and the shooter was reported "down" seconds later. Officials have noted that the gunman may have been shot by a bystander, although the suspect’s identity, the total victim count, and the specific weapon used remain under investigation. Police have indicated that at least one additional update is expected later tonight.
The incident prompted an immediate lockdown of the school. Police vehicles, fire trucks, and ambulances quickly swarmed the grounds. Authorities are currently engaged in the process of safely evacuating approximately 40 staff members and 450 children enrolled at Silver Rail Elementary. They are being transported to a designated reunification point at Journey Church.
During a news conference, police officials acknowledged the difficulties of the operation, stating: “As you can imagine, the process of getting all of those people safely out of the building and down to Journey Church is a real challenge.” They requested patience from the public while officers thoroughly clear each section of the school. A significant number of parents and community members gathered outside the premises as the search and evacuation efforts continued.
Steven Cook, the superintendent of Bend-La Pine Schools, released a statement offering his condolences to the affected community. “We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy,” Mr Cook said. “We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and to everyone affected by this violence. No words can adequately express the grief our community is experiencing. Our immediate priorities are caring for our students and staff and assisting law enforcement and emergency responders.”
Federal authorities are also providing assistance to local police in their response. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on social media that the bureau's Portland field office is on site to support the investigation, assuring that the agency “will make every resource they need available.”
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek similarly stated that she was “closely monitoring the situation at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend.” She expressed gratitude for the first responders present at the scene and pledged to provide further updates as more information becomes available. The Bend Police Department is leading the investigation into the incident.
