Bend Oregon is mourning after a 16-year-old gunman killed four people at Silver Rail Elementary before a bystander stopped him.

Shooting occurred Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. A 16 year old gunman killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School on Thursday and a bystander who followed him inside shot and killed him, Bend police said.

Bend Oregon spent Friday in mourning, with every Bend-La Pine school closed and investigators still working the scene.

At a glance                                                                                                                        

What: Shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School. Three children (ages 5, 8 and 11) and one teacher died. Two others were critically hurt.

When: Shortly before 1 p.m. PT, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026.

Who: A 16 year old Bend resident, not yet publicly named, shot dead by a community member.

What happened at Silver Rail Elementary?

The first call came at 12:59 p.m. from a driver who said someone with a long gun had fired at his car. Within minutes, dispatchers fielded dozens of 911 calls reporting a shooter inside the K-5 school, Police Chief Mike Krantz said.

Lockdown began at 1:01. Officers arrived at 1:02 and soon learned that a community member, who had watched the teen enter, had followed and shot him. The gunman got in by firing at locked doors, Krantz said, though police haven't said how far into the building he made it.

Who are the victims?

Police haven't released names, but the families of all four who died have been notified. Two others were taken to St. Charles Bend in critical condition. The Bend Bulletin reported they were a 7 year old student and a teacher.

"Today an unthinkable tragedy happened at Silver Rail Elementary School," Superintendent Steven Cook said at Thursday night's news conference.

Gov. Tina Kotek credited the bystander with stopping further loss of life, then added: "All Oregonians mourn this loss today."

Who was the shooter and why did it happen?

Police describe him as a 16 year old Bend resident and haven't released his name. The motive is unknown. Investigators haven't said whether he had any connection to the school, what kind of long gun he used or how many rounds he fired. The FBI is assisting local officers. Krantz warned of a long investigation.

What happens next?

Expect a heavy police presence at the school for several days. All Bend-La Pine schools and activities were canceled Friday. Hundreds gathered at Drake Park Thursday night for a vigil and Mayor Melanie Kebler pledged city support for the families.

More to Know

Reunification: Students and staff were evacuated and bused to Journey Church, where families were reunited with children.

Early death-toll confusion: Some outlets first reported "five dead." That count included the shooter. Authorities' tally is four victims plus the gunman.

Reporting discrepancy: One local outlet (KTVZ) described a 54 year old teacher among the dead. The Bend Bulletin and others described a teacher as critically injured. Names haven't been released, so this article avoids specifying.

Unnamed bystander: Police haven't identified the community member who shot the gunman. Kotek noted the person carries "a heavy emotional burden."

Preparedness: Krantz said every Bend officer completed a full day of active-threat training in August.

Bend Oregon now faces the slow work of grief and investigation. The basic facts are settled: four victims, one dead teenage gunman and a bystander who intervened. Names, motive and the shooter's connection to the school are not.

Business Fortune sums up the situation by noting that this story is still developing and details may change as police release more.

Sources

AP via PBS NewsHour · NBC News · CBS News · CNN · ABC News · The Bend Bulletin · KATU · KTVZ · MS NOW · Yahoo News