What Police Say Happened
The three children who died were aged five, eight and 11. A seven-year-old and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to a hospital in critical condition. Police haven't said whether the attacker had any links to the school, and they did not release further details about him or the identities of the victims. They did say he was a local boy.
Police were alerted to an active shooter at 12:59 local time (19:59 GMT), Bend Police Department spokeswoman Sheila Miller told reporters. The first call came from a person who said an unknown suspect was shooting into their car with a long gun. Photos from the scene show a red truck with bullet holes. Minutes later, the county dispatch received 911 calls saying the attacker had entered the school. Police said he shot at the door locks to force his way in.
A bystander saw the shooting begin, pursued the attacker into the school, and shot him dead. Krantz said the community member "pursued him into the school and engaged him." Officers arrived about three minutes later, confirmed the attacker was dead, and then searched the building. Local media reports suggest the school received new classroom doors in 2022 that can be locked with the flip of a switch.
A Community in Shock
Steven Cook, the top administrative official of the local school district, said in a statement, "We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy." He added, "No words can adequately express the grief our community is experiencing."
Schools in Bend are closed on Friday, with officials saying the community needs time to heal. Around 450 children attend Silver Rail Elementary, which has more than 40 adult staff members.
The attack comes amid a grim national trend. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were 235 shooting incidents at American schools last year and at least 140 so far this year.
