Teen Gunman Kills Three Children and a Teacher at Oregon Elementary School Before Bystander Stops Him

BEND, Ore., Oct. 16 (TodayViralUSA) — A 16-year-old gunman shot his way through the locked doors of Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon and killed three children and a teacher before a community member who followed him inside shot him dead, police said.

The children killed were 5, 8 and 11 years old, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz told reporters Thursday evening. A 7-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend in critical condition. Authorities have not released the names of the victims, but said their families have been notified.

Three minutes from first call to police arrival

The first 911 call came in at 12:59 p.m. Pacific time from a driver who said a person with a long gun had fired at their vehicle several times, Krantz said. Within the next minute, Deschutes County dispatchers were flooded with calls reporting that a shooter had entered the kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school, which has more than 400 students and over 40 staff members. The school was ordered into lockdown.

Officers reached the campus at 1:02 p.m. and learned moments later that the suspect had already been shot by a bystander who had seen him enter the building, pursued him and confronted him, according to police. Officers confirmed the suspect was dead, cleared the school room by room and bused students and staff to a reunification site at Journey Church on Highway 97.

Police have not said how far into the building the gunman got, how many shots were fired or what type of weapon was used. Multiple outlets, citing law enforcement sources, reported that the weapon was a shotgun; the Associated Press reported that a law enforcement official described it as a pump-action shotgun bought by the suspect’s mother. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ran an urgent trace on the gun Thursday evening.

Motive unknown

Police identified the shooter only as a 16-year-old Bend resident and have not released his name or a possible motive. Investigators have not said whether he attended the school or knew anyone there. The FBI and ATF are assisting local police and Oregon State Police.

“This is going to be a long investigation,” Krantz said, adding that a large law enforcement presence would remain at the school for several days.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek praised staff, parents, first responders and the unidentified community member who she said “heroically intervened to stop further loss of life,” and said state agencies stand ready to support the city. Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler called it “an awful day for our community.”

Bend-La Pine Schools canceled all classes, activities and athletic events on Friday. Residents gathered for a candlelight vigil at Drake Park on Thursday night.

Update — October 16, 2026

One of the children killed has been identified as 5-year-old Rhoam Summer, according to fundraisers and a social media post from his father, Kelik Summer, who wrote that Thursday was “the worst day of my life,” CBS News reported. Authorities had not publicly released the names of the other victims or of the 7-year-old and the 54-year-old teacher who remain hospitalized in critical condition.

The family of Kaylub Giamanco said in a statement to CBS News that he was the community member who shot and killed the gunman. Giamanco’s two daughters attend Silver Rail Elementary. The family said he is “not seeking recognition” and thanked first responders, school staff and the community for their support. Oregon’s governor praised the local resident for having “heroically” helped end the attack, the Associated Press reported.

Police have not officially identified the 16-year-old suspect or offered a motive, and have not said whether he had any connection to the school. Bend police scheduled a news conference for 2 p.m. local time Friday.