Bend, Oregon Elementary School Shooting: 3 Children and Teacher Killed, 16-Year-Old Gunman Shot Dead by Armed Bystander

Four people are dead after a 16-year-old opened fire at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, in one of the deadliest US school shootings this year. Police say the gunman was shot dead by an armed community member who followed him into the building before officers arrived.

What happened at Silver Rail Elementary:

The first 911 call came in at 12:59 p.m. local time on Thursday, reporting shots fired into a car outside Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. Police say the teenager forced his way into the locked school building by shooting at the doors, armed with a long gun. Officers were on the scene by around 1:02 p.m. — within minutes of the first call.

The victims:

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz confirmed at a Thursday evening news conference that three children — ages 5, 8, and 11 — and one teacher were killed in the attack. A 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were critically injured and taken to hospital.

The bystander who stopped the shooter:

Police say a community member who saw the teenager entering the school followed him inside and shot him dead in a brief exchange of gunfire before officers reached the scene. The police have not identified the bystander, and unverified claims circulating on social media about who the person was should not be treated as fact. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek publicly praised the civilian’s “heroic” intervention.

What we still don’t know:

Police have not named the 16-year-old shooter, have not confirmed whether he had any connection to the school, and say it is not yet clear how far inside the building he got or what his motive was. The FBI is assisting the investigation, a move publicly confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel. One law enforcement official, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, said the weapon was a pump-action shotgun bought by the shooter’s mother — an unattributed claim, not a statement from police.

Official response:

The school remained closed on Friday, October 16. Governor Kotek said the state stood with the families of Bend, calling the civilian’s intervention heroic. The investigation is ongoing, and police said further details would be released once the victims’ families have been fully notified.

Sources: CNN, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters (reporting October 15–16, 2026) — Niazi TV News