Three children and a teacher killed in Bend school shooting, police say

Three children and a teacher were killed when a gunman opened fire Thursday at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, authorities said. The children were ages 5, 8 and 11. A 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to hospital with critical injuries, police said. The suspect, a 16-year-old Bend resident, was also killed. [ 4 , 14 ]

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said a community member saw the teenager entering the school, followed him inside and shot him. The suspect was dead when responding officers arrived, according to the police account reported by CNN and CBS News. CBS News reported that the bystander identified himself on Friday as Kaylub Giamanco, a Bend resident with two daughters at the school. [ 1 , 4 ]

The incident began shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday. At 12:59 p.m., police received a call from a driver who said a person with a long gun had fired at their vehicle several times, Krantz said. Dispatchers then received multiple calls reporting a shooter inside the school. Krantz said the suspect forced his way into the building by shooting at locked doors. The school was directed to lock down at 1:01 p.m., and officers arrived a minute later. [ 14 ]

Police had not said whether the suspect attended the school or knew anyone there, ABC News reported. CNN said the police chief had not discussed a potential motive at the Thursday evening news conference. The FBI was assisting the investigation, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. Schools in Bend were to close Friday, The Guardian reported. Community members gathered in a downtown park Thursday evening for a prayer vigil, CNN reported. [ 1 , 11 , 14 ]