By Mardiyyah Abubakar
A shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, has left four people dead, including three children and a teacher, after a 16-year-old gunman stormed the school.
Police said the suspect was shot dead by an armed community member who pursued him into the school on Thursday.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the children, aged five, eight and 11, died at the scene, while a seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher sustained critical injuries and were rushed to a local hospital.
According to Krantz, officers responded at about 1:02 p.m. local time following reports of gunfire. Preliminary findings indicate that the suspect forced his way into the school by shooting at locked doors.
Authorities said the suspect was a 16-year-old resident of Bend. Officers confirmed his death after entering the building.
Pupils were evacuated under lockdown procedures and transported by bus to a designated location, where they were reunited with their families.
Bend-La Pine School District Superintendent Steve Cook described the incident as an “unthinkable tragedy,” expressing grief over the loss of lives.
The district subsequently cancelled classes, activities and sporting events scheduled for Friday as the community grappled with the aftermath of the attack.
Residents also gathered at Drake Park for a candlelight vigil to honour the victims and mourn those killed.
The shooting has renewed concerns over school safety and gun violence in the United States. Oregon Congresswoman Janelle Bynum condemned the attack, warning that repeated shootings at schools continue to leave children and families living in fear.
Police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shooting were ongoing.
