BEND, Ore. — A 16-year-old gunman killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School on Thursday before a community member pursued him into the building and fatally shot him, police said.
Two others — a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher — were hospitalized with critical injuries, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said.
The children killed were ages 5, 8 and 11. Authorities had not released their names or identified the teacher who died. The suspect was identified only as a 16-year-old Bend resident.
Investigators believe the gunman entered the school by firing through locked doors.
Police received the first emergency call at 12:59 p.m. Oct. 15 from someone in a vehicle who reported being shot at by a person carrying a long gun. Additional callers soon reported that the shooter had entered the school.
Krantz said officers were alerted at 1 p.m., the school was directed to lock down at 1:01 p.m. and police arrived at 1:02 p.m.
A community member who saw the suspect enter the building followed him inside and confronted him, killing him, Krantz said. Responding officers found the three children, the teacher and the suspect dead inside the school.
Authorities did not immediately identify the bystander. Krantz declined to discuss the firearm used by the suspect or whether the person who stopped him had a concealed carry permit.
Another police briefing was expected Friday afternoon as investigators continued piecing together what happened.
All Bend-La Pine schools were closed Friday. Crisis counselors were scheduled to be available beginning at 9 a.m. at Bend’s Central Library.
By Thursday evening, thousands of residents had gathered in Drake Park for a candlelight prayer vigil. Parents held children close as neighbors, clergy and elected officials mourned the victims.
Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler, who has an elementary-school-age child, struggled with emotion as she addressed the crowd. She pledged that city leaders would remain alongside grieving families in the months ahead.
Gov. Tina Kotek also attended, telling residents that no family or community should have to endure such a day.
“My heart is absolutely broken today,” Kotek said. “And our hearts will stay broken in the days and weeks ahead.”
Bend-La Pine Superintendent Steven Cook thanked school employees who helped protect students, saying they had faced circumstances no one should ever have to confront. He urged families to give children room to talk, cry and express their fears.
The vigil grew from a group chat into a gathering supported by more than a dozen churches, according to New Hope pastor Brandon Blumberg.
In a community as closely connected as Bend, he said, nearly everyone knows someone affected. His own 5-year-old daughter attends another nearby school.
“We send them to school every morning, expecting them to come home,” Blumberg said.
As the gathering continued into the night, residents left flowers, stuffed animals and candles at a makeshift memorial. Chalk messages offered comfort to families facing losses their neighbors struggled to comprehend.
Krantz asked the public for patience while investigators worked.
“There are not really any words I can say to any of you that will make this better,” he said.
