Three children and a teacher were killed after a suspected teen shooter opened fire at a primary school.

The community in Bend, Oregon, is mourning the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School.

A gunman first struck outside the primary school shortly before 1pm local time yesterday after reports of a person in a car being shot at with a long gun.

Then chilling 911 calls began to flood in, saying the shooter had entered the school, which has more than 400 pupils and over 40 staff.

Three children, aged five, eight and 11, and an adult teacher were gunned down after the suspect, believed to be a 16-year-old male, opened fire.

The suspect, whose name has not been publicly confirmed, is believed to have been neutralised by a member of the public.

A seven-year-old pupil and a teacher, aged 54, were also critically injured and were taken to a local medical centre in Bend.

Bend Police said: ‘At approximately 12:59 p.m., Bend Police responded to Silver Rail Elementary on reports of an active shooter. The first call indicated that an unknown man had shot into a car.

‘In the next minute, Deschutes County Dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting that a person had entered the school and begun shooting.

‘Dispatch sent out an alert tone to send all law enforcement to the scene. At 1:02 p.m., Bend Police officers were on the scene. Seconds later, officers reported the suspect had been shot and killed, possibly by a bystander.’

Leah Schwartz, a resident walking near the school when the massacre started, said she heard at least six shots.

She told NBC: ‘They were spaced out, which made us question whether it was gunshots or someone doing construction.’

What is known about the suspected shooter?

Police have yet to publicly identify him, but confirmed he is a local Bend resident.

It is not publicly known whether he had previously attended the school or knew anyone there.

Officials have been tight-lipped about how the gunman got hold of the firearm, believed to be a long firearm, as an investigation continues.

In Oregon state, people have to be 18 or older to buy rifles and shotguns, and 21 for handguns.

But legal loopholes exist, and minors can possess non-handgun firearms for activities like hunting or practice if they have parental consent.

So far in 2026, a total of 361 people have been killed and 1,553 people have been hurt across 365 mass shootings in the country.

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