Bend, Oregon school shooting: Three children aged 5, 8, and 11 and a teacher were killed on Thursday, October 15, 2026, when a 16-year-old gunman opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. The shooter was himself shot dead by a bystander carrying a concealed weapon who followed him into the school, police said. It is the 28th mass killing in the United States this year.
What Happened at Silver Rail Elementary
The first 911 call came at about 1:00 p.m. local time from a person in a vehicle outside the school who reported being shot at by someone with a long gun, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said. Within minutes, more calls came from inside the school. Officers were on the scene by about 1:02 p.m., but the gunman was already down — followed inside and shot by a community member who was legally carrying a concealed weapon, according to law enforcement sources cited by USA Today.
Bend police spokesperson Sheila Miller said investigators were still working to confirm the bystander's role. The shooter, a 16-year-old Bend resident, was pronounced dead inside the school. His name had not been released by Thursday evening, and no motive was known.
Students were evacuated room by room and reunited with their families at Journey Church, 61303 S. Highway 97. All schools in the Bend-La Pine district were closed Friday, October 16.
Victims and Injured
Police identified the dead as three students — ages 5, 8, and 11 — and a teacher. A 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were hospitalized with critical injuries. The FBI joined Bend police on the scene, and FBI Director Kash Patel said "we will make every resource they need available."
"We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy. We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and to everyone affected by this violence." — Steven Cook, Bend-La Pine Schools superintendent
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said "no community should have to live through this day," while Senator Ron Wyden called it yet another reminder of America's school shooting crisis: "Once again we must ask how many schools must be shot up before Republicans agree to act to curb gun violence."
A New Wrinkle: The Armed Bystander
The shooting has already reignited debate over guns on school grounds. The Bend-La Pine district banned all firearms on district property, including for concealed-carry holders, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting reporting from 2022 — though Oregon law allows unloaded guns locked in vehicles on school grounds. Authorities said it was not yet clear where the bystander was when the shooting began or whether he was lawfully armed.
According to a CNN analysis, the Bend shooting is the 36th shooting on K-12 school grounds in the United States in 2026.
What Comes Next
Police said another press briefing was expected Thursday evening with more details. The investigation into the shooter's identity, motive, and how he obtained the weapon remains in its early stages.
Watch: CBS Evening News reports on the Bend elementary school shooting — police say a gunman walked into Silver Rail Elementary School on Thursday and opened fire.
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Mourning Song (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0