Four killed in shooting at Bend, Oregon, elementary school

Three children and a teacher were killed Thursday in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, authorities said. Two other people, a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher, were hospitalized in critical condition.

Police identified the suspected shooter as a 16-year-old Bend resident but did not release his name. Authorities said an armed community member saw the suspect enter the school, followed him inside and fatally shot him. Police have not identified that person.

What Happened

Deschutes County dispatch received the first emergency call at about 12:59 p.m. local time Thursday from a person in a vehicle who said someone with a long gun had fired at them, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said. Dispatchers then received dozens of calls reporting that the shooter had entered Silver Rail Elementary.

The suspect forced entry by firing at locked doors, police said. Officers reached the school at about 1:02 p.m., roughly three minutes after the first call. By then, officers learned that the community member had engaged the suspect inside the building.

Officers entered the school, confirmed the suspect was dead, searched for additional threats and provided emergency aid, authorities said. They found four people who had been killed: children ages 5, 8 and 11, and a teacher.

Officials have not released the victims' names. Their families have been notified, according to police.

The Big Picture

The shooting interrupted an ordinary school day at the K-5 campus in central Oregon and prompted a large emergency response. Students and staff were evacuated from the building and transported to a nearby church, where they were reunited with their families.

Authorities have not established a motive or said whether the suspect had a connection to the school. They also did not publicly specify the type of firearm or how many rounds were fired. Law enforcement sources told CBS News that the weapon was a shotgun, but Bend police referred publicly only to a long gun.

The FBI is assisting local investigators. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Oregon State Police also were reported to be helping with the investigation.

What Each Side Is Saying

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek called the intervention by the unidentified community member heroic, saying the person acted to stop further loss of life. She added that the person's actions carry "a heavy emotional burden."

"A school should be a safe place where children can learn and feel secure," Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler said Thursday. Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook said the district was stunned and heartbroken, and urged community members to support one another as they grieve.

What Happens Next

Bend-La Pine Schools canceled classes, activities and athletic events across the district Friday. Police said the investigation would be lengthy and that a substantial law enforcement presence would remain at the school in the coming days.

Investigators are examining the suspect's background, possible ties to the school and access to the firearm. Authorities have asked for time to complete the investigation while the community begins mourning the four people killed and supporting the two victims who remain critically injured.