USA, tragedy in an elementary school in Oregon: 16-year-old shoots and kills 3 children

New massacre in an American school. A 16-year-old boy forced his way into Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, and shot dead three children and a teacher, before being shot himself by a hero passerby who intervened before the police arrived. The dynamics of what happened is not yet completely clear and the investigations, in which the FBI is also collaborating, are still at the beginning.

The possible dynamics

The alarm went off at lunchtime. In fact, at 12.59 the first call to 911 arrived to report a person shooting in a parking lot. A minute later, dozens of calls came in about shots fired inside the school. Officers arrived on site at 1.02pm and found three children aged 5, 8 and 11 shot dead. A teacher was also killed, while a seven-year-old boy and a 54-year-old man were injured and are in hospital. Their conditions are unknown. The attacker, a sixteen-year-old who lived in Bend, was killed by a passer-by who followed him into the school and confronted him, thus avoiding an even worse massacre. For many the man, whose identity the police have not released, is already a hero. It is unclear how the hero passerby got involved and whether or not he had the right to carry a weapon with him near a school. His gesture, however, avoided what could have been carnage. The boy forcibly entered the institute, shooting at the closed doors to unlock the locks. Then he started hitting with his "long gun".

The investigations

The police have so far not disclosed what type of weapon he used. The killer's motive is not yet known nor whether or not he knew anyone inside the school. "Today is a terrible day for our community. School should be a safe place where children can learn," Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler said.

“We are shocked and devastated by this senseless tragedy,” said Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families and anyone affected by this violence. There are no words to adequately express the pain our community is feeling. Our immediate priorities are to care for our students and staff and to assist law enforcement and emergency responders.”

The Bend shooting is the 21st mass shooting in the United States in 2026 and is set to reignite the gun debate amid the midterm elections