Oregon School Shooting: 16-Year-Old Kills 3 Children, Teacher
A 16-year-old boy has killed three children and a teacher in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, in the United States.
Police said the suspect forced his way into the school on Thursday afternoon, October 15, by shooting at locked doors. A community member later confronted and fatally shot him before officers arrived at the scene.
The three children killed were aged five, eight and 11. A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to hospital in critical condition, according to police.
Authorities have not disclosed the suspect’s identity or established whether he had any connection to the school.
How the Oregon School Shooting Happened
According to a BBC report, the Bend Police Department received an alert about an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School at 12:59 p.m. local time.
The first emergency call came from a person who reported that an unknown suspect was shooting at their vehicle with a long gun. Photographs from the scene showed a red truck with bullet holes.
Minutes later, emergency dispatchers received additional calls reporting that the suspect had entered the school.
Police said the teenager shot at the locks on the school’s doors to force his way inside.
A community member witnessed the attack, pursued the suspect into the school and shot him dead.
Officers arrived approximately three minutes after the initial emergency response was triggered. They confirmed that the suspect had been killed before searching the building.
Authorities have not disclosed the precise type of firearm used in the attack. However, multiple law enforcement sources cited by CBS News said the suspect used a shotgun.
Oregon Governor Reacts to School Shooting
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised the community member who intervened during the attack.
Speaking at a media briefing, Kotek described the intervention as heroic and acknowledged the emotional burden the individual could face after confronting the gunman.
Local officials also expressed grief over the deaths.
Steven Cook, the senior administrative official of the local school district, said the community was stunned and heartbroken by the tragedy.
Silver Rail Elementary School has approximately 450 pupils and more than 40 adult staff members.
Officials announced that schools in Bend would close on Friday to give the community time to grieve and recover from the incident.
A teacher, Kathy Sheil Smith, told CNN affiliate KPTV that she tried to keep pupils calm after noticing the gunman approaching the school.
She described seeing fear on the children’s faces as the incident unfolded.
What Is Known About the Suspect?
Police identified the attacker as a local 16-year-old boy but did not release his name or further personal details.
Investigators also declined to provide information about the weapon’s exact specifications or the number of rounds fired.
Under Oregon law, people under 18 generally cannot purchase firearms. However, state law allows minors to possess firearms under certain conditions, including parental permission for specific activities such as hunting.
Authorities have not publicly explained how the suspect obtained the weapon.
US School Shootings Remain a Major Concern
The attack adds to the continuing problem of gun violence in American schools.
According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were 235 shooting incidents at American schools in 2025, with at least 140 recorded by the time of the report in 2026.
The figures highlight the continuing challenge of preventing shootings in educational institutions across the country.
For the families of the children killed in Oregon, however, the immediate concern is the loss of young lives and the recovery of those who survived the attack.
Investigations into the shooting are continuing.