Federal Sources Say Armed Bystander Shot Bend School Gunman, 16; Three Children and One Adult Dead

Since police first reported a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, Oct. 15, law enforcement sources have put the toll at three children and one adult dead, plus the gunman, and have begun describing who stopped him.

Federal law enforcement sources told Fox News the suspect was a 16-year-old armed with a shotgun. They said he was killed by an armed bystander who held a concealed carry permit. One of those sources said the bystander "definitely prevented more deaths."

Bend police have not confirmed that account. Sheila Miller, the department's communications manager, said at a briefing that police did not have confirmation of who shot the suspect and that it "may have been a bystander." A police statement said officers reported the suspect had been shot and killed "possibly by a bystander."

The timeline

Police say dispatchers got the first call at about 12:59 p.m. local time. The caller reported a man shooting into a car near the school.

Within about a minute, Deschutes County Dispatch was getting multiple 911 calls saying a person had entered the building and opened fire. An alert went to officers at 1 p.m.

Officers arrived at about 1:02 p.m. Miller said the suspect was reported down seconds later. That is roughly three minutes from the first call to the shooter's death.

The suspect opened fire outside the school before going in, according to an officer cited in reports. He was killed inside the building.

Who is dead, who is hurt

Federal law enforcement sources confirmed the four deaths to multiple outlets. The adult is believed to be a teacher, according to law enforcement sources who spoke to the New York Post. Officials told the Associated Press the toll was preliminary and could change.

Bend Fire medics took at least two people to St. Charles Medical Center. Miller said the victims "include children," and that the total number of victims was not clear. Their conditions had not been released. Law enforcement sources told the Post two other children were hospitalized.

No victim names have been released. Police have not named the suspect, and no motive has been given. Four senior law enforcement officials briefed on the preliminary investigation described the shooting to NBC News.

The school is a public K-5 serving about 438 students, with more than 40 staff. Officials have not said how many were on campus.

Federal response and school closures

FBI Director Kash Patel said the Bureau's local office was on scene. "We will make every resource they need available," he said in a statement. A law enforcement source said the ATF and Oregon State Police were also assisting.

Bend-La Pine Schools will cancel classes and athletic events at every school in the district on Friday, Oct. 16. Superintendent Steven Cook called the shooting a "senseless tragedy."

Police said a large law enforcement presence would remain at the school and at Journey Church, the reunification site for families, "for the foreseeable future." Students were bused to the church as officers evacuated classrooms one by one.

Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, wrote that "no community should have to live through this day." Sen. Jeff Merkley said, "No one should have to fear violence at school."

The gun-ban question

The bystander's role raises a legal question no official has answered. The Bend-La Pine district previously banned all firearms on district property, including by concealed license holders, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting reporting from 2022.

It is not known where the bystander was when he fired, or whether he was on district property. No official has said whether he faces any legal review. Police have not identified him.

The broader numbers are grim but not rising. The K-12 School Shooting Database counted 235 shooting incidents at U.S. K-12 schools last year. It has logged at least 149 so far this year, including Bend. That is still above pre-pandemic levels but below the 2023 peak.

The next confirmations to watch: whether Bend police or the FBI officially name who fired the fatal shots, whether the bystander's identity and permit status are released, and when the victims' names are made public.

No charges are possible against the dead suspect. Any investigation into how a 16-year-old got a shotgun to an elementary school has not been announced.