Oregon shooting: Teen kills 3 children, 1 teacher at Bend elementary school before being fatally shot by bystander

A teenager shot his way through locked doors at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Ore., on Thursday, killing three children and a teacher, police say.

The children were 5, 8 and 11 years old, Bend Police Department Chief Mike Krantz said during a press conference on Thursday evening. 

The suspect, identified as a 16-year-old Bend resident, was shot and killed inside the school by a member of the community who saw him enter the building and pursued him, Krantz said.

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A 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were also sent to a hospital with critical injuries.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek praised the bystander for "heroically" intervening and stopping further loss of life.

"Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well," Kotek said.

Police did not release the names of the victims or the shooter.

Krantz did not say what kind of gun the suspect used, although a law enforcement official briefed on the shooting told the Associated Press that it was a pump-action shotgun. Multiple outlets have reported that the shotgun was originally purchased by the shooter's mother, citing law enforcement sources.

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It was not immediately clear if the shooter knew anyone at the school or whether he had attended. Police haven't released any information about the shooter's potential motive.

"This is going to be a long investigation," Krantz said. "We will have a large police presence at Silver Rail Elementary School for the next several days as our officers continue to conduct a very thorough investigation so we get all the answers. We appreciate your patience as we continue to investigate this terrible tragedy."

How the shooting unfolded

According to an incident report posted by the Bend Police Department, Deschutes County dispatch received reports of an active shooter at 12:59 p.m. local time, from a person in a vehicle outside the school who said they had been shot at multiple times by someone with a long gun.

The suspect entered the school after shooting through locked doors. Law enforcement officers were alerted at 1 p.m. and the school went into lockdown a minute later.

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Officers arrived at the scene at 1:02 p.m. "Seconds later, officers reported the suspect had been shot and killed, possibly by a bystander," police said. Officers then cleared the school, and all students and staff were transported to a nearby church for reunification with families and guardians.

Federal law enforcement sources told Fox News that the bystander had a concealed carry permit.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency was on the scene assisting in the investigation.

"Our hearts are broken," Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler said during Thursday's press conference. "A school should be a safe place where children can learn and feel secure. What happened today should never happen."

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"We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy," Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook wrote 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. Our immediate priorities are caring for our students and staff and assisting law enforcement and emergency responders."

The school district said all of its schools would be closed on Friday and crisis counselors would be available to to all students, families, staff and community members beginning at 10 a.m. at the Deschutes County Central Library.

"We are all still in shock and starting to process the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School," Bend-La Pine Schools said in a press release. "We know it will take time to fully understand the depth and magnitude of this tragedy and how it will continue to affect our community."

'They're babies'

Witnesses described hearing gunshots and seeing police swarm the school.

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"I heard what I thought was gunshots," Erin Johnson, who was visiting her parents next door to the school, told Oregon Public Broadcasting. "Then my neighbor began to scream shortly thereafter — her kids go to school there, at Silver Rail. Then I heard the police coming in."

She added: "It's heartbreaking. I don't know any details right now about who was injured. But they're babies."

Krista Johnson told OregonLive that she saw police swarm the school. "So many people stopping what they were doing," she said. "I knew that something had happened."

Angela Nuchols told the Bend Source that she and her husband had dressed their 8-year-old daughter up for picture day before school, then raced to Silver Rail after hearing about the shooting.

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"It was crawling with police officers from all over the county," she said. "You've got guys in tactical gear, rifles. You're just scared to death wondering, is your child okay? You don't know." They were later reunited with their daughter.

"It was like the worst three hours of our lives," Nuchols said.

Thousands attended a vigil at Bend's Drake Park on Thursday night, many carrying candles, flowers and stuffed toys.

"There is power and love in this park tonight," Kotek said at the vigil, according to OregonLive. "On behalf of everyone who lives in Oregon, I am so sorry for what you are experiencing today. No parent, no family, no community should have to have this kind of day."

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