A community is in shock after gunfire erupted at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon, leaving multiple people dead and several others injured — including children. Law enforcement officials have confirmed the shooter is no longer a threat, but the full scope of the tragedy is still coming into focus.
According to information provided to the Associated Press and other outlets, five people are believed to have died following the attack at Silver Rail Elementary School. At least two additional victims were hospitalized in the aftermath of the shooting.
Sheila Miller, the communications director for the Bend Police Department, confirmed there were
“multiple victims”
and said the injured included children. The conditions of those hospitalized were not immediately known.
Miller said authorities received their first call at 12:59 p.m., reporting a shot fired into a car outside the school. Officers arrived within minutes. Shortly after police reached the scene, the attacker was shot and found down inside the school building. It was not immediately clear who fired the shot that stopped the attacker — a press release issued by authorities noted it was possibly a bystander.
School Placed on Lockdown, Families Directed to Reunification Point
Silver Rail Elementary School was immediately placed on lockdown following the incident. The Bend Police Department established a reunification point where students’ families could go to be connected with their children. Other schools throughout the district were also placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure.
Silver Rail Elementary serves approximately 450 students and employs around 40 staff members, according to Miller. The school is located in Bend, a city in central Oregon.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the agency’s local office was on the scene and actively assisting local law enforcement with the investigation.
This is a developing story. Additional details are expected to be released as the investigation continues. For weather and traffic updates in your area, visit radar and traffic resources from local news stations covering the region.