Oregon School Shooting Kills Four
In this post
It was just before lunch at a school for small children. Then came the sound of gunfire at the doors — and within minutes, three children and their teacher were dead, a whole town was in shock, and only one brave stranger stood between the gunman and more killing.
The attack happened on Thursday at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, a city in central Oregon, in the United States. It is now the story all of America is talking about.
What happened at the school
Just before 1pm local time, the first emergency call came in: someone had fired a gun at a car outside the school. Police say a 16-year-old boy from Bend then shot at the school’s locked doors to force his way inside, carrying a long gun.
Inside, he opened fire. Three children — aged just 5, 8 and 11 — were killed, along with one teacher. A 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were also shot and taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Officers reached the school within minutes of the first calls. But by then, the gunman was already dead — stopped by someone else entirely.
The stranger who ran towards the danger
Police Chief Mike Krantz said a community member saw the teenager entering the school, followed him inside, and engaged him in a gun battle. The attacker was shot dead inside the building before police arrived.
Oregon’s Governor, Tina Kotek, said her heart was “absolutely broken”. She praised the bystander who, in her words, heroically intervened to stop further loss of life, saying his actions would carry a heavy emotional burden.
Police have not named the community member. They have also not released the attacker’s name, because he was a minor.
What we know about the attacker
The shooter was a 16-year-old who lived in Bend. According to a law enforcement official who spoke to the Associated Press, he used a pump-action shotgun that had been bought by his mother.
Police say they still do not know why he did it. They do not yet know if he had ever attended the school, or if he knew any of the children or teachers inside.
The FBI is helping local police with the investigation. Its director, Kash Patel, said every resource the local teams need will be made available to them.
A school and a town in mourning
Silver Rail Elementary teaches children from kindergarten to fifth grade — the youngest pupils are only five years old. The school had 459 students enrolled last year, according to Oregon’s education department.
After the attack, the school was placed on lockdown, and a special meeting point was set up so frightened parents could be reunited with their children.
Steven Cook, the superintendent of the Bend-La Pine school district, said simply: “We are heartbroken. We are horrified.”
Another name on a long, grim list
According to CNN’s count, this was the 36th shooting on the grounds of a primary or secondary school in the United States this year alone.
Each time it happens, the same national argument begins again about guns and school safety. But in Bend this week, that argument feels very far away. What the town is left with is four funerals to plan — three of them for children who were 5, 8 and 11 years old.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Oregon school? On Thursday, a 16-year-old gunman forced his way into Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, and opened fire. Three children and a teacher were killed, and two more people were critically injured.
How many people were killed in the Bend school shooting? Four people were killed: three children aged 5, 8 and 11, and one teacher. The attacker also died. A 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher are in hospital in a critical condition.
Who stopped the shooter? A community member who saw the teenager entering the school followed him inside and shot him before police arrived. Police have praised his actions but have not released his name.
What weapon did the attacker use? Police said he carried a long gun. A law enforcement official told the Associated Press it was a pump-action shotgun purchased by the attacker’s mother.
Do police know the motive? No. Police say the motive is still unknown, and they do not yet know whether the attacker attended the school or knew anyone there. The FBI is assisting the investigation.
Sources
- CNN — 3 children and a teacher were killed in Oregon elementary school shooting
- USA Today — Teen gunman kills 3 children, teacher at Oregon elementary school
- Associated Press via The Banner — 3 children, teacher were killed in Oregon elementary school shooting
- The Wall Street Journal — Three Children and One Teacher Killed in Elementary School Shooting in Oregon
- The Times — Oregon school shooting: three children and a teacher killed
- Photos from the scene: Associated Press photos in The Banner report · CNN report and pictures
- The picture on this page is an original illustration made for Talha M Blog.
