Three children and one adult were killed Thursday afternoon in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. The 16-year-old suspected gunman was shot and killed at the scene, with authorities investigating whether a bystander stopped the attack.
Emergency dispatchers received the initial call at approximately 12:59 p.m. on October 15, 2026, reporting a shot fired into a vehicle near the school grounds. Within two minutes, law enforcement received multiple 911 calls indicating that an armed suspect had entered the building and begun firing. Police units arrived by 1:02 p.m., and officers reported over the radio within seconds that the shooter was down.
Four People Die in Shotgun Attack
Federal law enforcement sources and local officials confirmed that three children and one adult died in the violence. At least two additional victims—one child and one adult—were transported to medical facilities by emergency medics, where their conditions were touch-and-go. The suspected shooter used a shotgun during the attack, according to information shared by law enforcement sources.
I am closely monitoring the situation at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend. I am grateful to the first responders who are on the scene. I will share as I learn more.
Authorities have not yet officially confirmed the identity of the 16-year-old suspect or established the exact sequence of how the shooter died. Police spokesperson Sheila Miller addressed reporters during an on-site briefing, stating that investigators were examining whether a bystander carrying a legally concealed weapon intervened and shot the gunman.
We don’t have confirmation yet who shot the suspect. It may have been a bystander.
Sheila Miller, Bend Police Department communications manager
During a press conference, Miller choked up. She described the impact on the community as devastating and called it the sort of event they never wanted to see happen in Bend. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office declined to confirm details regarding the shooter and the exact count of injured children. Federal agents from the Portland FBI branch responded to the location, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents were also en route to the campus.
My team and I are closely monitoring reports of an active shooter situation at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend.As details continue to come out, my heart is with the Bend community and all of the students and families affected.No one should have to fear violence at… https://t.co/HSu47saMAH
Law Enforcement Secures Campus with Upgraded Locks
Hundreds of law enforcement personnel from agencies across Central Oregon, including the Oregon State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, rushed to the campus as rooms were evacuated. School data shows the facility enrolled between 400 and 450 students and had more than 40 total staff members.
The facility received classroom door hardware upgrades in 2022. The upgrades were part of a districtwide safety project installing new locks designed to be secured from inside via a switch so they remain locked when doors close. As officers secured the building and classrooms, school buses transported students away from the campus. Officials established a family reunification site at Journey Church, located at 61303 S. Highway 97 near Goodwill and Dairy Queen, where parents and loved ones gathered to wait for students.
Bend-La Pine District Cancels Friday Activities
School district leadership announced that all schools, athletic events, and extracurricular activities across the Bend-La Pine district would be canceled on Friday, October 16. Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook released a statement expressing profound grief over the incident.
We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy. 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. Our immediate priorities are caring for our students and staff and assisting law enforcement and emergency responders.
Steven Cook, Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent
State and federal officials also mobilized resources following the shooting. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the deployment in a social media post. He stated that federal agents were on the scene to assist local partners, writing that the bureau would make every resource needed available.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the 16-year-old suspect, the exact sequence of how the shooter died, or whether a bystander ultimately stopped the attack.
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