LIVE: 4 killed, including 3 children, in Oregon elementary school shooting, source says. Teen shooter is also dead, sources say

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Originally Published: 15 OCT 26 16:57 ET
Updated: 15 OCT 26 20:27 ET
By Emma Tucker, John Miller, CNN

(CNN) — Three children and one adult were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, according to preliminary information from a law enforcement source.

The shooter was a 16-year-old male, according to multiple law enforcement sources.

The shooter had already been shot and killed inside the school when police arrived at the scene at about 1 p.m., police said. At an earlier news conference, police said there were multiple victims, including children, but did not specify a number.

It’s not yet known who killed the shooter, but it “may have been a bystander,” said Sheila Miller, spokesperson for the Bend Police Department.

Medics transported at least two people to the hospital, according to police.

The first 911 call indicated an “unknown man had shot into a car,” moments before multiple calls to police reported a person had entered the school and started shooting, police said.

Silver Rail Elementary School was placed on lockdown, and the Bend Police Department set up a reunification point for student families.

The FBI is on the scene and assisting in the ongoing investigation, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. “We will make every resource they need available,” he said on X.

The tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary marks the 36th shooting on K-12 school grounds this year, according to CNN’s analysis of events reported by the Gun Violence Archive, Education Week and Everytown for Gun Safety. Swarms of police officers and ambulances racing to the grounds of a school ravaged by gunfire has become a familiar scene, and one that represents only the beginning of incalculable pain, loss and trauma.

“We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy,” said Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook in a statement. “We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and to everyone affected by this violence. No words can adequately express the grief our community is experiencing.”

City officials will hold another news conference about the shooting at 5:30 p.m. local time at the City Council Chamber, according to a city council member.

A large crowd of parents and concerned community members gathered outside the school Thursday afternoon as they waited for updates about the situation. There was a large police and emergency personnel response, including police vehicles, ambulances and a fire truck.

Sierra Jordan, who works at a business less than half a mile from the school, told CNN the typical laughter of children playing outside for recess was replaced by a swarm of ambulances, police officers and other first responders rushing to the scene.

Jordan had never seen so many police officers in her life, she said, adding one of her coworkers was on a walk outside when she heard gunfire around 1 p.m. That coworker was not sure exactly how many shots she heard.

The situation is “absolutely heartbreaking,” Jordan said.

School buses carrying students and staff members later arrived at the reunification center set up at the nearby Journey Church.

Over 400 students are enrolled at Silver Rail Elementary. All Bend-La Pine Schools will be closed on Friday, including activities and athletic events, the district said.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said in a statement, “No community should have to live through this day.”

“As we learn more about the tragic event at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend today, we must come together and support each other, neighbor to neighbor, Oregonian to Oregonian,” Kotek continued.

Former Bend Mayor Jeff Eager described the shooting as “unimaginable.”

“Bend is a place that people move to from bigger cities. They move here because it’s relatively safe here, they move here because we have schools you can walk your kids to,” Eager told CNN’s Pamela Brown. “You can’t imagine that it happens here.”

Eager said the school was built in recent years, adding the school district has invested a lot in security.

In a statement responding to the tragedy, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said: “My heart is with the victims of today’s shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School and their loved ones now facing the consequences of another school shooting in America.”

“Once again we must ask how many schools must be shot up before Republicans agree to act to curb gun violence,” he continued.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The-CNN-Wire
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