Multiple people, including children, have reportedly been killed following a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, 15 October 2026.
Emergency services rushed to Silver Rail Elementary School shortly after 1pm local time following reports of gunfire outside the building and an armed individual entering the school.
According to CNN, citing police sources, one adult and three children were killed during the incident, while two other people were transported to hospital.
Authorities have confirmed that the suspected shooter is dead, although the circumstances surrounding the gunman's death remain under investigation.
The reported death toll has not yet been fully confirmed in publicly available police statements, and officials are continuing to establish the number of victims.
What happened at Silver Rail Elementary School in Oregon?
The shooting unfolded on Thursday afternoon at Silver Rail Elementary School, located in the Old Farm District of Bend, Oregon.
According to Bend Police spokesperson Sheila Miller, the first emergency call was received at approximately 12.59pm local time.
The caller reported that an unidentified man had fired a gun into a vehicle outside the school.
Additional emergency calls subsequently reported that an armed individual had entered the elementary school and opened fire.
Police officers arrived at the scene shortly after 1pm and discovered that the suspected shooter had been fatally shot.
Authorities have not confirmed the identity of the attacker or established a motive.
The school was immediately placed on lockdown while officers and emergency responders worked to secure the building.
How many people were killed in the Oregon school shooting?
Initial reporting from CNN, citing law enforcement sources, indicated that four victims had died, including three children and one adult.
At least two additional people were transported to hospital following the shooting.
Bend Police confirmed that multiple people had been injured and that children were among the casualties.
However, the precise number of fatalities and the conditions of those injured had not been fully confirmed by police at the time of the initial reports.
Officials have not publicly identified the victims, and families are being given time to receive information through the appropriate authorities.
The developing situation means the reported casualty figures may change as police release further details.
Who killed the suspected shooter?
One of the major unanswered questions concerns how the suspected gunman died.
Police confirmed that the attacker had been shot and killed inside the school.
However, authorities have not established who fired the fatal shot.
Speaking to CNN, police spokesperson Sheila Miller said investigators were examining the possibility that a bystander had intervened.
Social media posts have circulated claims that a parent may have shot the attacker, but those accounts have not been independently verified or officially confirmed.
Police have urged patience while investigators reconstruct the sequence of events.
Children evacuated as terrified parents gather outside school
Following the shooting, police and emergency personnel began evacuating students and staff from Silver Rail Elementary School.
Officers worked through the building room by room to ensure everyone could be safely removed.
The school serves approximately 450 pupils and employs more than 40 staff members.
A family reunification centre was established at Journey Church on South Highway 97, allowing parents and guardians to collect their children away from the emergency response area.
Large numbers of worried family members gathered nearby as they waited for news.
Other schools in the surrounding district were also placed under precautionary lockdowns during the response.
Witness describes hearing gunshots near the school
Residents living close to Silver Rail Elementary School described hearing gunfire and witnessing a significant emergency services response.
Leah Schwartz, who lives in Bend's Old Farm District, told NBC News that she heard several loud noises coming from the area.
She explained that the sounds were spaced apart, initially leaving her uncertain whether she was hearing gunfire or nearby construction work.
Other witnesses reported seeing numerous police vehicles, ambulances and fire crews arriving at the school.
Residents were asked to avoid the surrounding area while emergency services continued their work.
FBI joins investigation into Oregon elementary school shooting
The FBI has confirmed that agents from its Portland field office are assisting local authorities with the investigation.
FBI Director Kash Patel said federal resources would be made available to support the response.
Investigators are expected to examine the attacker's movements, the circumstances of the shooting and how the incident came to an end.
Police have not announced whether the suspect had any known connection to the school or its pupils.
The motive remains unknown.
School superintendent issues heartbreaking statement
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook expressed his devastation following the tragedy.
In a statement, he described the school community as heartbroken and extended sympathy to the families affected by the violence.
He acknowledged the immense grief being experienced by those connected to the school.
The district has been working with emergency services to support pupils, families and employees following the incident.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also confirmed that she was monitoring developments and thanked first responders for their work at the scene.
Hospital confirms receiving shooting victims
St. Charles Health System confirmed that two injured people had been transported to hospital following the incident.
The healthcare provider issued a statement expressing sympathy for affected families, the wider community and emergency responders.
Details about the patients' injuries and medical conditions had not been publicly disclosed in the initial reports.
Authorities are continuing to coordinate with healthcare providers as the investigation progresses.
Police continue investigation as community awaits answers
The shooting has left the Bend community grieving and searching for answers about how the violence unfolded.
Several important questions remain unresolved, including the identity and motive of the suspected gunman, the confirmed number of victims and the circumstances surrounding the attacker's death.
Police have confirmed that the immediate threat was brought to an end, while investigators continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Further updates are expected as authorities verify casualty figures and notify affected families.
This is a developing story. Information reflects initial reports published on 15 October 2026 and may change as officials release confirmed details.
