Teenager kills three children and teacher in Oregon school shooting

Oregon, USA, October 16, 2026 — A 16-year-old boy killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend before a community member shot him dead, police said.

The suspect, whose identity has not been released, forced his way into the school on Thursday afternoon by firing at locked doors, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said.

According to Krantz, a community member witnessed the shooting, followed the teenager into the school and confronted him with a firearm, killing him.

The three children who died were aged five, eight and 11. A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to hospital in critical condition, Krantz said.

Police identified the attacker as a local 16-year-old boy but did not disclose further details about him or the victims. Authorities have not established whether he had any connection to the school.

Police received an active-shooter alert at Silver Rail Elementary at 12:59 p.m. local time, corresponding to 04:59 British Summer Time, Bend Police Department spokeswoman Sheila Miller told reporters.

The first report came from a person who said an unknown suspect was firing a long gun at their vehicle. Photographs from the scene showed a red truck with bullet holes, police said.

Several minutes later, county dispatchers received emergency calls reporting that the gunman had entered the school. Police said he shot at the door locks to gain entry.

Local media reports indicated that the school had received new classroom doors in 2022 that could be locked by flipping a switch.

A community member who saw the attack unfold pursued the gunman inside and shot him dead, police said. Officers arrived three minutes later, confirmed the suspect was dead and began searching the school.