Children among the victims in Bend Oregon school shooting
Multiple people, including children, have been injured after a gunman opened fire at an elementary school in Oregon.
Officers responded to Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, shortly before 1pm following ‘multiple 911 calls’ about a shooter.
Police said a shot was reportedly fired into a car at around 1.59pm and that police were on the scene at 1.02pm.
Multiple people have reportedly been injured, with police confirming that the victims include children.
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At least two people have been taken to hospital.
Sheila Miller from the Bend Police Department also said the suspected shooter had been killed.
It is not yet clear who killed the suspect but Miller said it 'may have been a bystander'.
“The Bend Police Department is currently at Silver Rail Elementary School after a report of an active shooter,” the department said in a statement earlier Thursday.
“There is a large police presence in the area. Please avoid the area.”
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook said the district is ‘stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy’.
He said in a statement: “We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and to everyone affected by this violence.
"No words can adequately express the grief our community is experiencing.
"Our immediate priorities are caring for our students and staff and assisting law enforcement and emergency responders.”
Between 400 and 450 children attend Silver Rail Elementary, as well as more than 40 staff members.
Speaking earlier this evening, Miller said: “We’re in the process at this time of evacuating, going room by room, and evacuating each of the people who are in that school.”
Once safely out of the school, people will be taken to by bus to the reunification centre.
FBI Director Kash Patel said an investigation is underway.
“@FBIPortland is on the scene and assisting our local partners in the investigation regarding an earlier shooting at a local school,” he wrote on X.
“We will make every resource they need available."
In a statement, US Senator Jeff Merkley said his team is monitoring the situation in Bend.
He said: “As details continue to come out, my heart is with the Bend community and all of the students and families affected.
“No one should have to fear violence at school.”
Congresswoman Janelle Bynum said she is pausing all campaign activity following the incident, as she wants to remain 'focused on supporting and being with the community as it responds to this tragedy’.
“I feel this deep, deep, deep in my soul,' she said.
“Our whole community does. Our whole state does. And the whole nation should.
“Our babies are supposed to do arts and crafts at school, not use their desks as cover from gunfire. They’re supposed to make friends, not mourn them. This is every parent's worst fear.
“My heart and my prayers and everything else I got is with the families at Silver Rail Elementary. When will it end?”
Topics: US News
Claire Reid