Oregon Shooter Killed 4 Before Being Fatally Shot by Good Samaritan
A 16-year-old gunman opened fire at a pickup truck before entering an elementary school and killing three children and a teacher. The suspect was then killed by a community member.
A 16-year-old gunman killed three children and a teacher at an Oregon elementary school on Thursday, authorities said. The unidentified teenager also fired shots at a pickup truck in the school parking lot before entering Silver Rail Elementary School and proceeding to the special education classrooms.
The incident began around 12:59 p.m. when a man in a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck noticed the teenager heading toward the school with a pump-action shotgun. According to witnesses, the man decided to confront the teenager, who then fired multiple shots at the civilian and his truck, shattering a rear window and leaving visible damage to the vehicle. The assailant then reportedly threw his gun over the school fence and climbed over it, prompting the truck driver to call Deschutes County dispatchers.
Bend police officers arrived at the scene by 1:02 p.m. but were informed that the gunman had been fatally shot by an unidentified community member who had entered the building. Officers confirmed the suspect's death upon entering the school. Out of caution, police evacuated the building room by room to ensure there were no additional threats.
The victims were identified as three children, ages five, eight, and 11, and one teacher whose age was not disclosed. A seven-year-old child and another 54-year-old teacher sustained critical injuries and were transported to a local hospital.
Parents and children were reunited at a nearby church. Mindy Corley, the aunt of a fifth-grader, told NBC News that her nephew was "very, very scared and wanted to go home." Steven and Angela Nuchols described the "worst three hours of our lives" as they waited to be reunited with their eight-year-old daughter.
Authorities have not yet confirmed a motive for the shooting. The FBI's Portland Bureau and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting in the investigation. A law enforcement source told the Associated Press that the suspect used a pump-action shotgun purchased by his mother.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised the "good Samaritan" who intervened and stated, "My heart is absolutely broken today. No parent should have to have this kind of day."
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook called the incident an "unthinkable tragedy," and the district canceled all classes, activities, and athletic events scheduled for Friday.