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A 16-year-old boy has killed three children and a teacher in a shooting at a primary school in Oregon, United States, before a member of the community shot him dead, police have said.
The attack occurred on Thursday afternoon at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, where the suspect reportedly forced his way into the building by shooting at locked doors.
The three children killed were aged five, eight and 11, while a seven-year-old pupil and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to hospital in critical condition.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the suspect, whose identity had not been released, was confronted by a community member who pursued him into the school and shot him dead.
Police received the first report of an active shooter at 12:59 pm local time. Officers arrived at the scene about three minutes later and confirmed that the attacker was dead before searching the school.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised the individual who intervened, saying the person had acted heroically to prevent further loss of life.
“What you did carries a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you too,” she said during a media briefing.
The motive for the attack and whether the suspect had any connection to the school remain unclear. Authorities have also not disclosed the exact type of firearm used, although local media reports cited sources who said it was a shotgun.
The shooting shocked residents of Bend, a mountain town where the school serves about 450 pupils and employs more than 40 adults.
Michael Kohn, a reporter with the Bulletin newspaper, said parents were stunned by the incident, describing the school as a neighbourhood institution where such violence was unexpected.
Schools in Bend were closed on Friday as officials said the community needed time to grieve and recover.
The attack comes amid continued concerns about gun violence in American schools. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, 235 shooting incidents occurred at US schools last year, while at least 140 had been recorded so far in 2026.
Oregon law prohibits people under 18 from purchasing firearms, although minors may possess them in certain circumstances, including with parental or guardian permission.
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