Three children and a teacher killed in Oregon elementary school shooting

Three children aged 5, 8 and 11 and a teacher were killed when a 16-year-old opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. The shooter, who forced his way in by firing at locked doors, was shot dead by a community member who followed him inside.

Ally Daily Editorial DeskOctober 16, 2026, 11:05 AMUpdated: October 16, 2026, 11:37 AM

Three children and a teacher killed in Oregon elementary school shooting

Three children and a teacher were killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon, authorities said. The children were 5, 8 and 11 years old. Police said the death toll is preliminary.

A 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were taken in critical condition to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. Emergency services began receiving calls at around 12:59 p.m. local time, and the school went into lockdown two minutes later.

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Shooter forced his way in

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the shooter, a 16-year-old Bend resident, “forced their way into the school by shooting at locked doors.” The first caller reported being shot at multiple times by a person with a long gun.

According to police, a community member who saw the attacker enter the school followed him inside and shot him. “Our officers entered the building and confirmed the suspect was dead,” Krantz said. Investigators are still working to determine whether the shooter had ever attended the school, and the motive is unknown.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz gave an initial update on the victims and the sequence of events at a news conference after the shooting.

“A horrible day”

Downtown Bend, Oregon (file photo)

“All Oregonians mourn this loss today. This is a horrible day,” Gov. Tina Kotek said, calling the community member’s intervention heroic. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau is assisting local police. Students and staff were bused to a nearby church, where they were reunited with their families.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, 369 mass shootings have been recorded in the United States so far in 2026.

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