Wednesday, December 15, 2021
A gunman opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday; law enforcement sources say three children and one adult were killed before the shooter was shot dead.
A shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon, October 15, has left at least four people dead, according to law enforcement sources who spoke with CBS News. Those sources say three of the victims are children and one is an adult. Bend police have not released an official count. Police spokesperson Sheila Miller confirmed that children are among the victims and that at least two people were taken to St. Charles Medical Center, in unknown condition. These figures are as of Thursday evening and may change as more is confirmed.
Police say the first call came in just before 1 p.m., reporting someone shooting into a car outside the school. About a minute later, multiple 911 calls said the shooter had gone inside and opened fire. Officers arrived within about three minutes and found the shooter dead. Miller said it was not yet clear who fired the shot that stopped the attacker, and that it may have been a bystander. Law enforcement sources told CBS News the suspect was a 16-year-old. Police have not confirmed the suspect's identity or a motive.
Silver Rail serves about 460 students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Officers went room by room to evacuate classrooms, and families were sent to a reunification site at Journey Church on Highway 97. The FBI, ATF and Oregon State Police are assisting Bend police. Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook said, "We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy." Gov. Tina Kotek said she is closely monitoring the situation.
School shootings are rare, and most children will never face one. When one happens, though, the first hour belongs to the parents who get the call. The instinct is to drive straight to the school. Responders ask families not to. A crowd of cars at the scene slows ambulances and officers. Go to the reunification site the school or police name, bring a photo ID, and expect a wait while staff match every child to an approved adult. Check now that your contact numbers with the school are current and that the people on your pickup list know they are on it. Agree on a family emergency meeting spot so older kids know where to go if they are released on their own.
Kids also take their cue from us. A calm talk about lockdown drills helps them treat the drill as practice rather than a source of fear. Ask what their class does, and remind them that following their teacher is the right move. For adults, the run, hide, fight plan applies in any building, including a school visit or a pickup line. Each step is laid out in our guide to surviving an active shooter.
Where it stands now: the scene is still active, and police and federal agents are expected to release names, an official count and more on the shooter in the coming days. The broader trend is tracked in mass shootings in 2026. Tonight, check your school contact details and ask your children what their class does during a lockdown. Be Prepared Not Scared!
