Bystander chased teen shooter into school before killing him in firefight
Updated . First published at
Five people are dead following a primary school shooting in the US state of Oregon.
Police confirmed children were among the victims of the shooting, and the teenage shooter is dead.
Police tape is placed outside Silver Rail Elementary school, where a shooting took place. AP Photo/Joe Kline
The victims were three children aged between five and 11 and a teacher. The suspect was also killed.
A seven-year-old child and another teacher were also wounded.
The shooter got into the school by blasting the door locks with a long gun.
The suspect was 16 years old. They are yet to be identified.
Police said a bystander witnessed the shooter walking into the school. The bystander then chased him instead and shot him in a firefight before police arrived.
The first 911 call indicated an “unknown man had shot into a car”, moments before multiple calls to police reported a person had entered the school and started shooting, police said.
Silver Rail Elementary School was placed on lockdown, and the Bend Police Department set up a reunification point for student families.
The FBI is on the scene and assisting in the ongoing investigation, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
“We will make every resource they need available,” he said on X.
There have been at least 52 school shootings in the United States so far this year, leaving at least 28 people dead and 48 others injured, according to CNN’s analysis of events reported by the Gun Violence Archive, Education Week and Everytown for Gun Safety.
The tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary represents the 36th shooting on K-12 school grounds this year, the data shows.
Five people were killed in the shooting. AP Photo/Joe Kline
“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.”
City officials will hold another news conference about the shooting at 5.30pm local time at the City Council Chamber, according to a city council member.
A large crowd of parents and concerned community members gathered outside the school Thursday afternoon as they waited for updates about the situation. There was a large police and emergency personnel response, including police vehicles, ambulances and a fire truck.
School buses carrying students and staff members later arrived at the reunification centre set up at the nearby Journey Church.
More than 400 students are enrolled at Silver Rail Elementary.
In a statement responding to the tragedy, senator Ron Wyden of Oregon said: “My heart is with the victims of today’s shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School and their loved ones now facing the consequences of another school shooting in America.”
“Once again we must ask how many schools must be shot up before Republicans agree to act to curb gun violence,” he continued.
Governor Tina Kotek also issued a statement.
“As we learn more about the tragic event at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend today, we must come together and support each other, neighbour to neighbour, Oregonian to Oregonian,” she said.
“No community should have to live through this day.”
Gabby Giffords, a former congresswoman who suffered critical injuries in a mass shooting, demanded change to gun laws after the attack.
“Our hearts are broken and we’re angry. It’s disgraceful that extremists keep blocking critical, lifesaving laws while kids die in their classrooms,” she said in a statement.
“America can do better. It must.”
– with CNN
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