Four Dead in Oregon Primary School Shooting
Teacher, three children killed; two others critically injured as 16-year-old gunman forces entry.
Carla Rooney
A shooting at an Oregon primary school left four victims dead, including a teacher and three children.
The attack at Silver Rail Elementary School began at 12:59 PM. The suspect forced entry, firing at locked doors.
Emergency services transported two additional victims, a 7-year-old and a teacher, to the hospital in critical condition. The deceased included a 5-year-old, an 8-year-old, and an 11-year-old; authorities identified the five-year-old victim as Rhoam Summer.
The teen assailant armed himself with a pump-action shotgun. His mother reportedly purchased the weapon.
Oregon law permits a minor to possess a shotgun if a parent provides it or gives consent. Police claim it remains unclear if the assailant had any links to the school.
A civilian in a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck confronted the teen in the school parking lot before the shooting began inside the building. Kalub Giamanco, 36, a father at the school, shot the suspect dead shortly after the shooting started.
Photos from the scene show a red truck riddled with bullet holes. This evidence aligns with initial reports of a suspect shooting into a car.
Bend police officers responded to the incident within minutes. The school went into lockdown at 1:01 PM; officers arrived at 1:02 PM.
This is going to be a long investigation.
Federal agents from the FBI's Portland Bureau and the ATF are assisting in the investigation. Authorities claim a motive for the shooting remains unclear, with Mike Krantz stating, "This is going to be a long investigation."
The school district canceled classes, activities, and athletic events for Friday. All schools in Bend and La Pine are closed on Friday.
Community members gathered at Drake Park for a prayer vigil after the shooting. Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler addressed the community after the event.
Steven Cook stated, "We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy." Tina Kotek added, "My heart is absolutely broken today, and our hearts will stay broken in the days and weeks ahead, and my daily prayers will be with this community, with the children, with the parents, and with the educators."
Kotek also acknowledged the heroic actions of the bystander, stating, "To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life, your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well."