Teen boy gunman kills at least four including children in Oregon elementary school

A teenage shooter killed at least four people, including children, when he opened fire at an elementary school in Oregon, law enforcement sources told the Daily Mail. 

Multiple victims were taken to the hospital, and the unidentified shooter was shot dead after gunfire broke out on Thursday afternoon at Silver Rail Elementary School in the city of Bend. 

The four victims do not include the suspect, who is believed to be a 16 year old boy.

‘This is the kind of thing we never want to see happen in Bend,’ police spokeswoman Sheila Miller said, choking up as she spoke.

‘And our hearts go out to this community, and we ask our community to really work together and come together at this time.’ 

Reports of shots fired into a vehicle near the school came in around 12.59pm, and at 1pm, the police department sent out an alert to respond to a critical scene. 

Meanwhile, police continued to receive multiple 911 calls from inside the school. 

Cops then arrived at the scene by 1.02pm and just moments later, the lone shooter was killed. It is unclear who shot the suspect, with officers suggesting at a news conference that he may have been taken down by a bystander.

At least two people were transported to a local hospital in the aftermath, but their status remains unclear. 

Police on Thursday responded to Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon (pictured)

Family members are pictured walking to a reunification center following the shooting 

At least four people, including children, have died in the shooting, law enforcement sources told the Daily Mail

Police officers had gone room by room to evacuate the elementary school – which has a student body of between 400 to 450 pupils and a staff of more than 40, Miller said. 

Officers have since asked the public to avoid the area as the school remains under lockdown, but a large crowd of concerned parents were seen gathering outside the school after hearing the reports.

Those worried parents have since rushed to the nearby Journey Church, to be reunited with their loved ones. 

Reports from the scene now indicate that at least one class has been released and worried parents were seen walking over to the church, according to the Bend Bulletin.  

But Kayla Jensen, president of the school’s Parent Teacher Organization, said she and other parents were still awaiting word about their children.

‘We have not gotten any news,’ she told The Oregonian. ‘We are all here.’ 

Meanwhile, agents from the FBI’s Portland bureau have arrived at the scene to assist local authorities in the investigation, Kash Patel said. 

‘We will make every resource they need available,’ Patel said on X.  

Officers have asked the public to avoid the area as the school remains under lockdown, as a large crowd of concerned parents gathered outside the school after hearing the reports

A police officer was seen setting up police tape outside of the elementary school

Bystanders had earlier gathered outside the elementary school on Thursday following reports of an active shooter

In a statement, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said she is ‘closely monitoring the situation at Silver Rail Elementary.’

‘I am grateful to the first responders who are on the scene. I will share as I learn more,’ she said in a statement

US Senator Jeff Merkley said his team is also monitoring the situation.

‘As details continue to come out, my heart is with the Bend community and all of the students and families affected,’ he said. ‘No one should have to fear violence at school.’ 

Congresswoman Janelle Bynum even announced that she is halting all campaign activity following the shooting, saying she is ‘focused on supporting and being with the community as it responds to this tragedy.

‘I feel this deep, deep, deep in my soul,’ she said in a statement. Our whole community does. Our whole state does. And the whole nation should.

‘Our babies are supposed to do arts and crafts at school, not use their desks as cover from gunfire. They’re supposed to make friends, not mourn them. This is every parent’s worst fear.

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

Bend police officers rushed to the scene of the shooting on Thursday afternoon. A child is pictured walking near police tape following the tragedy

The Bend Police Department announced on social media that officers responded to the scene of the shooting and asked the public to avoid the area

Senator Ron Wyden also said: ‘My heart is with the victims of today’s shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School and their loved ones now facing the consequences of another school shooting in America.’

‘Once again we must ask how many schools must be shot up before Republicans agree to act to curb gun violence,’ he continued.

Senator Chris McDaniel further asked the public to ‘please join me in praying for the children at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon.

‘Pray for the teachers trying to protect them, the parents waiting desperately for word and the officers and first responders rushing to help,’ he posted on social media.

‘We don’t yet know the full story, but somewhere tonight, mothers and fathers just want to hold their babies,’ McDaniel noted.

‘Lord, protect those children. Bring them home safely.’ 

Emergency personnel direct traffic at the Journey Church family reunification location

Evacuated students were taken by bus to an off-site reunification center

At the same time, Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook expressed his shock and sadness after the shooting.

‘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,’ Cook said in a statement.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.