A shooting that began with gunfire into a car outside Silver Rail Elementary School moved inside the building Thursday afternoon, leaving three children and an adult reported dead and sending officers into classrooms to evacuate students. The suspected gunman also died.
The attack unfolded shortly before 1 p.m. at the southeast Bend school. Within three minutes of the first emergency call, officers were on campus. Seconds after their arrival, they reported that the suspect had been shot and killed.
By Thursday afternoon, students were being transported under police escort to a church to meet their families, at least two people had been taken to St. Charles Bend, and the district had canceled Friday classes, activities and athletic events.
The reported deaths of three children and an adult remained preliminary. Authorities had confirmed the suspect’s death and that children were among the victims, but had not released a final casualty count ahead of an evening briefing. Early accounts differed over the number killed and whether the suspect was included.
The first call reached emergency dispatchers at approximately 12:59 p.m., reporting that an unidentified man had fired into a car at Silver Rail, at 61530 SE Stone Creek Lane. Within the next minute, additional callers reported someone had entered the school and begun shooting.
Dispatch issued an alert summoning law enforcement to the campus. Bend officers arrived at 1:02 p.m. and, moments later, reported the suspected shooter was dead.
Investigators were examining whether a bystander had shot him. Who fired the fatal shot had not been confirmed, and authorities had not publicly established the circumstances surrounding his death.
The suspect was reported to be a teenager, with preliminary accounts describing a 16-year-old boy. His name and age had not been formally released. The identities of those killed also remained unavailable Thursday afternoon.
Emergency crews transported at least two people to St. Charles Bend. Their conditions had not been released, and the number of people injured remained unsettled as investigators worked through the scene.
Inside the school, officers began evacuating classrooms. District buses carried students to Journey Church at 61303 S. Highway 97, where parents and guardians were directed for reunification. Law enforcement escorted the buses, and arriving families were instructed to follow signs at the church.
The response extended across the school campus and reunification location. Authorities asked the public to avoid both areas to allow emergency personnel and school transportation crews to work.
Bend-La Pine Schools canceled all classes, activities and athletic events scheduled for Friday, October 16. Superintendent Steven Cook identified care for students and staff and assistance to emergency responders as the district’s immediate priorities.
Federal agents from the FBI’s Portland office joined local investigators. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau would make additional resources available to support the investigation.
Governor Tina Kotek expressed support for the families and community affected by the shooting. Kotek, Police Chief Mike Krantz, Cook and Mayor Melanie Kebler were scheduled to address the public at a 5:30 p.m. briefing at Bend City Hall.
As families gathered at the reunification site, investigators continued examining the sequence of gunfire outside and inside Silver Rail. The final death toll, the conditions of those hospitalized and the circumstances of the suspect’s death remained unresolved ahead of the briefing.