# Gunman kills three children and teacher in Oregon school

> A 16-year-old forced his way into Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend on Thursday and opened fire, killing three children aged five, eight and 11, and a teacher. A bystander shot him dead before police arrived.
- Title: Gunman kills three children and teacher in Oregon school
- Summary: A 16-year-old forced his way into Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend on Thursday and opened fire, killing three children aged five, eight and 11, and a…
- Keywords: silver rail elementary school, bend oregon, school shooting, gun violence, tina kotek, news, world, Gunman, kills, three, children, teacher
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm89zp48k4kzo
- Published: 2026-10-16T01:29:24.694+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: silver rail elementary school, bend oregon, school shooting, gun violence, tina kotek, news, world
## Gunman forces way into Oregon school
A sixteen year old shot at locked doors to force his way into Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend on Thursday afternoon, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz confirmed. Three children and a teacher were killed.
## Bystander stops the attacker
A community member pursued the gunman into the school and shot him dead, Krantz said. Police arrived three minutes later and confirmed the attacker had been killed.
## Victims identified by age
The three children killed were aged five, eight and eleven.A seven year old and a fifty four year old teacher were taken to hospital in critical condition.
## How the attack unfolded
Police were alerted to an active shooter at twelve fifty nine local time.The first call reported an unknown suspect shooting into a car with a long gun.
## Governor praises the bystander
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised the bystander who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life. She told a media briefing that his actions carry a heavy emotional burden and her thoughts are with him.

> Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well
## Teacher describes keeping children calm
Teacher Kathy Sheil Smith told CNN affiliate KPTV she tried to keep children calm after spotting the gunman.

> The looks on their faces was really hard to see
## School closures and community response
Schools in Bend will be closed on Friday as the community needs time to heal.Around four hundred fifty children attend Silver Rail Elementary School, which has more than forty adult staff members.
## School shooting statistics and gun laws
According to the K twelve School Shooting Database, there were two hundred thirty five shooting incidents at American schools last year and at least one hundred forty so far this year.
## Key takeaway

A sixteen year old shot dead three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon on Thursday before being killed by a bystander. A seven year old and a fifty four year old teacher were taken to hospital in critical condition.