At least three people, including children, are dead following a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, according to preliminary information being reported by multiple sources. The suspected shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School was shot and killed inside the building, possibly by a bystander, authorities said earlier.
The claim spread quickly across social media Thursday afternoon, with Fox News and other outlets carrying law enforcement sources. Fox News reported that there are fatalities, with children among the victims rushed to the hospital. Police said the suspected shooter was killed inside Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, but did not confirm who shot the suspect.
A Fox News broadcast detailed that law enforcement sources told the network there were fatalities in the case, with multiple victims including children transported to the hospital. The broadcast stated that police did not specify the conditions of the victims or how many children were among them. The transcript read: "Law enforcement sources tell Fox there are fatalities in this case. There were multiple victims including children who were transported to the hospital. Now they did not specify their conditions or how many children were victims. Fort Vimpley say the suspected shooter was killed inside of the building, but they did not confirm who shot the suspect. They say it could have been a bystander."
The shooting occurred at Silver Rail Elementary School, about 170 miles southeast of Portland. Dispatch received the first call about a shot fired into a car just before 1 p.m. local time. Police responded within minutes and found the suspect down and multiple victims. According to the broadcast, authorities were in the process of evacuating the building, going room to room. Hundreds of personnel were on scene, and Bend medics transported at least two people to St. Charles hospital. The victims include children. The school has between 400 and 450 students and about 40 staff members.
The account @MarioNawfal posted on social media: "🚨🇺🇸 BREAKING: A HERO bystander reportedly took down a gunman inside an Oregon elementary school… but three children and an adult didn't make it. Sources say the shooter, believed to be a teenager, opened fire on a car outside Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, then walked straight" into the school.
In a follow-up post, @MarioNawfal wrote: "🚨🇺🇸 UPDATE: Three children and an adult were killed at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon, according to law enforcement sources. Officers made it to the school within THREE minutes of the first call, and by then the shooter, believed to be a teenager, was already dead."
The account @ABC posted: "BREAKING: At least three people, including children, are dead following a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, sources say." A second post from the same account repeated the death toll. The network did not name the victims or provide further details at the time.
The account @FoxNews posted: "BREAKING: Law enforcement sources tell Fox News there are fatalities following a shooting at an Oregon elementary school, with children among the victims rushed to the hospital. Police say the suspected shooter was killed inside Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, but" the post cut off.
Oregon State Representative @kenmartin73 wrote: "Grateful to the first responders who are on the scene at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon. Holding the victims and their families in my prayers as we wait for more information."
According to ABC News, police initially received a call right before 1 p.m. PT Thursday about a shot fired into a car outside the school, according to Bend Police Department spokesperson Sheila Miller. "Within about a minute, we were receiving multiple 911 calls from within the school," Miller said at a press briefing. The 911 callers reported that a person had entered the school and started shooting. Officers arrived on the scene minutes later and within seconds the suspect was down, Miller said. It is unclear who shot the suspect, she said. There are multiple victims in the shooting, including children, Miller said. At least two victims were transported to an area hospital in unknown condition.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are en route to the school, according to a source. Classes, activities and athletic events at all Bend-La Pine Schools are canceled for Friday. A statement from the district read: "No words can adequately express the grief our community is experiencing. Our immediate priorities are caring for our students and staff and assisting law enforcement and emergency responders."
Next News Network could not independently verify the claim that a bystander shot the suspect.
The posts from @MarioNawfal, @ABC, @FoxNews and @kenmartin73 spread rapidly across social media, with users sharing and reacting to the news as it developed. The initial reports of a hero bystander sparked intense discussion online, with many praising the individual's actions while expressing sorrow for the victims. However, authorities have not confirmed who shot the suspect, leaving the claim unverified.
The shooting has drawn responses from across the political spectrum, with figures from both parties expressing condolences. The account @kenmartin73, a state representative, offered prayers for the victims and their families. The account @MarioNawfal, known for breaking news, emphasized the heroism of the bystander while acknowledging the tragic loss of life.
The Bend-La Pine Schools district announced that all classes, activities and athletic events are canceled for Friday. The district's statement emphasized caring for students and staff and assisting law enforcement. The community is left mourning as details continue to emerge.
Our Take
Once again, America is left grieving after a senseless act of violence targeted the most vulnerable among us: schoolchildren. While we await full details, early reports suggest that a brave bystander may have stopped the shooter, potentially preventing even greater tragedy. This act of heroism stands in stark contrast to the cowardice of the attacker. However, we must not allow this moment to be politicized before the facts are known. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and we commend the first responders who rushed into danger. As a nation, we must have a serious conversation about protecting our schools and addressing the root causes of such violence, but that conversation should be based on facts, not speculation or agenda-driven narratives. The left will undoubtedly use this tragedy to push for more gun control, but we should focus on real solutions that keep our children safe without infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens.
