Oregon School Shooting Kills 3 Children and Adult; Suspect Dead

Three children and one adult were killed Thursday in a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon. The suspected gunman also died, possibly after being shot by a bystander.

Federal law enforcement sources confirmed the deaths of the four victims to Fox News. Bend police said they were investigating whether a bystander killed the suspect inside Silver Rail Elementary School.

Officers moved through Silver Rail Elementary room by room as they evacuated the campus and worked to determine who shot and killed the suspected gunman.

“We don’t have confirmation yet who shot the suspect. It may have been a bystander,” Sheila Miller, communications manager for the Bend Police Department, said during a news briefing.

Bend Fire medics took at least two people to St. Charles, though their conditions were not immediately available.

Silver Rail Elementary has approximately 400 to 450 students and more than 40 staff members, officials said. It was not immediately known how many people were inside the school when the shooting occurred.

Miller became emotional while describing the shooting’s effect on the Bend community.

“This is the kind of thing we never want to see happen in Bend. It’s devastating,” Miller said.

Dispatchers received the first report at about 12:59 p.m. The caller said a shot had been fired into a car. Officers were alerted at 1 p.m. and arrived at approximately 1:02 p.m., according to the police communications manager.

Only seconds after officers reached the scene, a radio transmission reported that the suspect was down. During the police response, dispatchers received several 911 calls reporting an active shooter at the school.

Police said hundreds of law enforcement personnel from agencies throughout Central Oregon responded to the scene.

Agents from the FBI’s Portland field office also arrived to assist local authorities with the investigation.

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“We will make every resource they need available,” the FBI office said in a post on X.

Authorities directed families to Journey Church, located at 61303 S. Highway 97, for reunification. Police also urged the public to stay away from the area surrounding the school.

Silver Rail Elementary serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade in the Bend-La Pine school district. The school’s principal is Lybe Hawkins.

School data shows that Silver Rail enrolled 459 students and had about 30 teaching staff members during the 2024-2025 school year. Police previously put the school’s current enrollment at 400 to 450 students, with more than 40 staff members overall.

No events were listed on the school’s public-facing calendar for Thursday.

Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook said the district was “stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy.”

“We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and to everyone affected by this violence,” Cook said in a statement shared by police. “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.”

Bend police also expressed support for those affected.

“We are thinking of the families and friends of Silver Rail Elementary and everyone in Bend and beyond who are affected by this terrible tragedy,” the department said.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said she was closely monitoring the situation.

“I am grateful to the first responders who are on the scene,” Kotek wrote on X. “I will share as I learn more.”

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said he and his team were also closely monitoring reports of an active shooter at the school.

“As details continue to come out, my heart is with the Bend community and all of the students and families affected,” Merkley wrote on X. “No one should have to fear violence at school.”

Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., whose district includes Bend, called the shooting “every parent’s worst fear.”

“Our babies are supposed to do arts and crafts at school, not use their desks as cover from gunfire,” Bynum said in a statement posted on X.

“My heart and my prayers and everything else I got is with the families at Silver Rail Elementary. When will it end?”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.