Three children, teacher killed in Oregon school shooting

Three children aged five, eight and 11, along with a teacher, have been killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, in the United States.

Police said the suspected attacker, a 16-year-old boy, was also killed after a community member confronted him inside the school on Thursday.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the teenager forced his way into the school by shooting at locked doors. Authorities received reports of the incident at 12:59 p.m. local time, after an earlier call reported a suspect firing at a vehicle.

A bystander pursued the teenager into the school and shot him, police said. Officers arrived about three minutes later and confirmed that the suspect had been killed before searching the premises.

A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to hospital in critical condition. Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the victims or established whether the suspect had any connection to the school.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised the individual who intervened, saying the action had helped prevent further loss of life. Officials have not publicly confirmed the person’s identity, although emergency dispatch audio suggested the individual could be a pupil’s parent.

The shooting prompted an outpouring of grief in Bend, where hundreds of residents attended a candlelight vigil on Thursday evening. Flowers, candles and messages of remembrance were placed in a local park as community members gathered to pray and support one another.

Steven Cook, the school district’s top administrative official, said the community was struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

“We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy,” he said.

“No words can adequately express the grief our community is experiencing.”

Teachers and parents described the fear and confusion as the school went into lockdown. One teacher, Kathy Sheil Smith, told a local television station that some children prayed while others comforted their classmates.

Silver Rail Elementary serves approximately 450 pupils and has more than 40 adult staff members. Schools in Bend were scheduled to close on Friday to give the community time to grieve.

Police have not confirmed the type of firearm used or the number of shots fired. The investigation is ongoing.

Source: BBC