Oregon school shooting kills three children and teacher
A 16-year-old gunman killed three children and a teacher and wounded two others on Thursday at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, before being pursued and killed by an intervening citizen. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz confirmed that the slain victims were pupils aged 5, 8, and 11, alongside one adult teacher. Another child and a second staff member sustained gunshot injuries and were transported to a hospital.
The violence began around 1 p.m. local time when a motorist outside the school reported being fired upon by an individual armed with a long gun. Further emergency calls followed from inside the building, which accommodates roughly 450 students and 40 staff members. Police spokesperson Sheila Miller stated that officers arrived within minutes, moments after radio dispatches confirmed the suspect had been neutralized by the community member. Surviving students were later evacuated by bus to an off-site facility to reunite with their families.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek expressed deep sorrow and commended the resident whose intervention prevented further loss of life. Bend, situated roughly 175 miles southeast of Portland, is among scores of American communities impacted by firearm violence this year, with the Gun Violence Archive recording more than 365 mass shootings nationwide so far.
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