A 16-year-old shooter on Thursday killed three children and one teacher at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, injuring two others. The shooter was killed after being pursued by a community member. According to reports, the victims included three children aged 5, 8, and 11, and one teacher.
Details of the Incident
Bend police reported that the first call to 911 was received around 1 PM local time. Someone driving outside Silver Rail school reported that shots were fired at them. Following that, more calls were received from inside the school, and police officers arrived at the scene within minutes.
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Sheila Millar, a police spokesperson, said that upon arrival, reports were received that the shooter was down. Bend, a city with a population of about 100,000 in central Oregon, is located approximately 175 miles (280 kilometers) southeast of Portland.
Community and Officials' Reactions
Following the incident, local officials announced that students were being transported by bus to a separate location and would be reunited with their families. This school serves students from preschool to fifth grade and has about 450 students and 40 staff members.
Tina Kotek, the governor of Oregon, thanked the community member who heroically intervened to prevent further casualties. She said, "No parent should have to experience such a day, and no community should have to endure such a day." Kotek also added that in remembering the victims, we will grieve and share this sorrow.
Statistics on gun violence in the United States show that the country has the highest rate of gun-related deaths among high-income countries. Just this year, over 365 mass shootings have been recorded in the United States. Mass shootings are defined as incidents in which four or more people, excluding the shooter, are shot.
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