A civilian rushed toward an Oregon elementary school after a teenage gunman opened fire, confronting the suspect in an effort that authorities said may have prevented even more deaths.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek commended the unidentified community member following the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School on Thursday afternoon.
“To the community member who heroically intervened, your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I want you to know that my thoughts are with you too,” Kotek said during a news conference.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the person pursued and “engaged” the 16-year-old suspect moments after the teenager began shooting, injuring at least six people.
Investigators said the teenager was carrying a pump-action shotgun bought by his mother. The attack killed three children—ages five, eight and 11—as well as a teacher.
Authorities have not released the names of those killed in the Silver Rail Elementary School shooting.
Kotek said the civilian’s intervention likely helped limit the number of victims and prevented “further loss of life.”
“My heart is absolutely broken today,” she said. “This is a horrible day. No parent should have to have this kind of day.”
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised an unidentified community member who pursued and “engaged” the 16-year-old suspect after the teenager opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School.
Police said the teenage suspect used a pump-action shotgun purchased by his mother, killing three children, ages five, eight and 11, along with a teacher.
Community members gather at a candlelight vigil in Drake Park to remember those killed and everyone affected by Thursday afternoon’s shooting.
Kotek said the community member’s intervention helped avert “further loss of life.”
A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were also wounded and taken to the hospital in critical condition. Officials have not provided an update on their status.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and we are working hard to investigate this incident,” Krantz said.
According to The Source, the incident began when a man in a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck saw the teenager approaching the school while carrying a long gun.
The driver confronted the teen, who allegedly fired repeatedly at him and the truck. Several rounds shattered the vehicle’s rear window and left six large bullet holes in its body.
The gunman then reportedly threw the weapon over the school fence and climbed after it. The driver called Deschutes County emergency dispatch at approximately 12:59 p.m.
Police arrived within minutes and ordered the school into lockdown as officers moved toward the scene.
Krantz said the suspect entered the building by shooting through locked doors, triggering “dozens” of emergency calls from people inside.
The suspect was later found dead after being shot.
A seven-year-old and a 54-year-old teacher were also struck in the chaos and transported to hospital with critical injuries. Their condition remains unclear
The tragedy began when a man driving a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck in the school parking lot spotted the teen carrying a long gun approach the building
A woman lights a candle during a candlelight vigil at Drake Park for victims of the Silver Rail Elementary School shooting
The teen forced his way into the building by shooting at locked doors – at which point dispatchers started receiving ‘dozens’ of 911 calls. The suspect was then found shot and killed
‘Officers at the scene located five people who had succumbed to their injuries, including the suspect,’ Krantz said.
The school was placed under lockdown following the shooting, as police officers went room by room to evacuate the building, police spokeswoman Sheila Miller said. The school has a student body of between 400 to 450 pupils and a staff of more than 40.
Officers clad in bullet proof vests and carrying assault rifles were also seen in the aftermath peering into the vehicles parked at the school’s lot, while parents, teachers and children huddled together, embracing and wiping tears from their faces.
A motive for the shooting remains unclear, and authorities would not confirm on Thursday night whether the suspect knew anybody at the school or if he had attended it when he was younger.
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Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Dr Steven Cook held back tears as he thanked emergency responders and the schools staff for their efforts to protect students during the attack.
‘Today, an unthinkable tragedy happened at Silver Rail Elementary School,’ he began.
‘We are heartbroken. We are horrified. This is the kind of thing you hear about in other places and pray that it never happens here… today it happened to our children, our teachers and our families.’
As Cook uttered words to his community, his voice wavered when he thanked the heroic efforts of the school staff.
Officers clad in bullet proof vests and carrying assault rifles were also seen in the aftermath peering into the vehicles parked at the school’s lot, while parents, teachers and children huddled together, embracing and wiping tears from their faces
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Dr Steven Cook held back tears as he thanked emergency responders and the schools staff for their efforts to protect students during the attack
Community members grieve during a candlelight vigil at Drake Park
Community members left flowers and candles among messages written in chalk at a memorial at Drake Park during a candlelight prayer vigil
‘To our staff who helped our students and protected our kids today, we thank you. You did what no one should ever be asked to do. I am so grateful beyond words for your efforts,’ he said.
‘This is a time to love and care for one another…Please hold your loved ones tight tonight…We are going to rally and care for one another… We will get through this.’
Cook earlier described the attack as a ‘senseless tragedy.’
‘We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy,’ he said.
Worried parents rushed to the nearby Journey Church to be reunited with their loved ones as officials evacuated the youngest children first.
As she waited for her nephew, Mindy Corley, the aunt of a fifth-grader at the school, told NBC News how he was left ‘very scared’ in the aftermath of the shooting.
She said he has a cellphone and was able to tell his mother he was OK, but ‘he was clearly very, very scared and wanted to go home.’
Steven and Angela Nuchols also told how they got their eight-year-old daughter, Charlotte, dressed up for picture day earlier on Thursday.
They then had to race to the school just a few hours later.
‘It was crawling with police officers from all over the country,’ Angela said. ‘You’ve got guys in tactical gear, rifles. You’re just scared to death wondering is your child OK? You don’t know.’
A motive for the shooting remains unclear, and authorities would not confirm on Thursday night whether the suspect knew anybody at the school or if he had attended it when he was younger
Anxious family and community members wait outside of Silver Rail Elementary School
Worried parents rushed to the nearby Journey Church to be reunited with their loved ones as officials evacuated the youngest children first
Messages written on the ground at the site of a candlelight vigil at Drake Park for victims of the Silver Rail Elementary School shooting
The couple was later reunited with their daughter, but Angela said it was ‘like the worst three hours of our lives.’
Meanwhile, Federal agents from the FBI’s Portland Bureau and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have descended on the scene to aid in the investigation, with FBI Director Kash Patel vowing to ‘make every resource [local law enforcement needs] available.’
The city’s mayor, Melanie Kebler, said that their ‘hearts are broken.’
‘A school should be a safe place where children can learn and feel secure. What happened today should never happen,’ she added.
The school district has canceled all classes, activities and athletic events that were scheduled for Friday.
