Oregon school shooting: At least four killed, including three children; suspected shooter dead

Three children and one adult were killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, according to preliminary information provided by a law enforcement source. Police said the suspected shooter had already been shot and killed inside the school by the time officers arrived at around 1 pm. Authorities had not disclosed the number of victims during an earlier news conference.

It remains unclear who shot and killed the suspect. However, Sheila Miller, a spokesperson for the Bend Police Department, said it may have been a bystander. According to police, at least two people were transported to a hospital by emergency medical personnel. The first 911 call reported that an unknown man had shot into a car. Moments later, police received multiple additional calls reporting that someone had entered the school and started firing shots.

Following the incident, Silver Rail Elementary School was placed under lockdown. The Bend Police Department also established a reunification point where families could meet their children. Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook expressed grief over the incident in a statement. “We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy,” said Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook in a statement. “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.”

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A large number of parents and concerned community members gathered outside the school on Thursday afternoon, waiting for information about the shooting and the safety of students. Police and emergency personnel responded in large numbers, with police vehicles, ambulances and a fire truck at the scene as authorities worked to address the aftermath of the tragedy.

One of the deadliest school shootings in US history occurred at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. South Korean student Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people and wounded 17 others before taking his own life. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States has recorded more than 360 mass shootings so far this year. The organization defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot.