Three children and a teacher were killed after a suspected teen shooter opened fire at a primary school in Bend, Oregon. The shooting occurred at Silver Rail Elementary School, which has more than 400 pupils and over 40 staff.
Shooting timeline
A gunman first struck outside the primary school shortly before 1pm local time yesterday after reports of a person in a car being shot at with a long gun. Then 911 calls began to flood in, saying the shooter had entered the school.
Three children, aged five, eight and 11, and an adult teacher were gunned down after the suspect, believed to be a 16-year-old male, opened fire. A seven-year-old pupil and a teacher, aged 54, were also critically injured and were taken to a local medical centre in Bend.
Police response
Bend Police said: ‘At approximately 12:59 p.m., Bend Police responded to Silver Rail Elementary on reports of an active shooter. The first call indicated that an unknown man had shot into a car.’
‘In the next minute, Deschutes County Dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting that a person had entered the school and begun shooting. Dispatch sent out an alert tone to send all law enforcement to the scene. At 1:02 p.m., Bend Police officers were on the scene. Seconds later, officers reported the suspect had been shot and killed, possibly by a bystander.’
The suspect, whose name has not been publicly confirmed, is believed to have been neutralised by a member of the public.
Witness account
Leah Schwartz, a resident walking near the school when the massacre started, said she heard at least six shots. She told NBC: ‘They were spaced out, which made us question whether it was gunshots or someone doing construction.’
Investigation and context
Police have yet to publicly identify the suspect, but confirmed he is a local Bend resident. It is not publicly known whether he had previously attended the school or knew anyone there. Officials have been tight-lipped about how the gunman got hold of the firearm, believed to be a long firearm, as an investigation continues.
In Oregon state, people have to be 18 or older to buy rifles and shotguns, and 21 for handguns. But legal loopholes exist, and minors can possess non-handgun firearms for activities like hunting or practice if they have parental consent.
Gun violence and firearms are considered the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the US, and thousands of people die in firearm-related incidents every year. So far in 2026, a total of 361 people have been killed and 1,553 people have been hurt across 365 mass shootings in the country.
