Children Among Victims in Shooting at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon
Authorities confirm children were injured in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon. The suspect is dead following a rapid police response.
POLICY WIRE — Bend, Oregon — A violent incident at Silver Rail Elementary School has left multiple people injured, including children, prompting a massive law enforcement response in the central Oregon city.
The suspected gunman is dead following the confrontation. Bend Police Department spokesperson Sheila Miller confirmed that officers arrived at the scene at 1:02 p.m. local time, and the shooter was neutralized seconds later.
The initial emergency call reached authorities at 12:59 p.m., reporting an individual firing shots into a vehicle outside the school. Within a minute, dispatchers were flooded with multiple 911 calls originating from inside the building.
While the suspect was found deceased inside the school, investigators are still working to determine who fired the fatal shots. Miller noted that it may have been a bystander who engaged the shooter.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek stated 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.
Police are currently conducting a room-by-room evacuation of the facility, which serves between 400 and 450 students and employs a staff of more than 40 people. Those evacuated are being transported by bus to a reunification center established at the nearby Journey Church.
At least two individuals have been hospitalized, though their specific conditions remain unknown. Bend is located approximately 3 ½ hours southeast of Portland.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
