Authorities say a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, claimed the life of three children and one teacher Thursday. The man, who was 16 and living in Bend, was also shot after being confronted by a Bend community member, authorities said.
Bend Police Chief Michael Krantz told reporters the victims were a 5, 8 and 11-year-old child, as well as one teacher in Oregon. Police said the suspect was a local teen who was shot by a community member who saw him run into the school grounds and then running around inside the school premises.
Sheila Miller, a spokesperson for the Bend Police Department, stated that officers were first called to a report that a gunshot was fired into a vehicle. A few minutes later, a number of emergency telephone calls were received stating that there was an active shooter in the school.
Shortly after receiving the first call around 1 p.m. local time, officers arrived. Police then were told on the radio that the shooter had been shot and killed.
A second short briefing was to take place at 5:30 p.m. local time to give more details about the incident.
Miller said Silver Rail Elementary has an average of 400-450 students and has over 40 staff members.
After the shooting, the Bend-La Pine School District reported that the school was under “hazardous conditions” and called for a lockdown. Students were taken by law enforcement to a meet-up location away from the school and parents were able to get to their students via the buses.
Relax both inside and outside a church at a site near it could be seen as families gathered waiting to see their children.At the location near a church, some families were seen waiting near and inside the church, hoping to see their loved ones. Parent Drew Sharp told CBS News he believed his child was out of danger and it wouldn’t harm her.
It was not clear immediately, who the perpetrator was and what they had hoped to accomplish by the shooting. More information will be provided as the investigation continues, police said.