On 2025-08-01, law enforcement sources told CBS News and CNN that at least four people, including three children, were killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. The school serves kindergarten through fifth grade students, typically ages 5 to 11, with around 450 students and 40 staff members. Bend is a city of approximately 100,000 people in central Oregon, about 175 miles southeast of Portland. Initial emergency radio traffic indicated two victims were critically injured (red-tagged) and four were dead or not expected to survive (black-tagged).
Police spokeswoman Sheila Miller confirmed multiple victims, including children, and said the suspect was located inside the school and was down seconds after police arrived. She added that it was not yet clear who shot the suspect, but it may have been a bystander. The school was placed on lockdown, and nearby schools including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary School were also locked down around 1:20 p.m. Thursday before being lifted about 40 minutes later. Video showed multiple police cars and ambulances at the scene. At least two people were hospitalized following the shooting.
CNN, citing preliminary police information, reported the shooter was a 16-year-old male. The suspected shooter was believed to be a teenager who was shot and killed by a Good Samaritan. Police confirmed the suspect was deceased. The FBI's Portland bureau began assisting local investigators on 2025-08-01, with FBI Director Kash Patel stating the bureau would provide every resource needed.
We extend our deepest condolences to the families and everyone affected by this act of violence.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said she was closely monitoring the situation and expressed gratitude to first responders. Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook described the district as stunned and heartbroken, extending sympathy to affected families. He said, "We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and to everyone affected by this violence," and later added, "We are shocked and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and everyone affected by this act of violence."
A community member saw the shooter enter Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon, and pursued him into the school before police arrived. https://t.co/4RfU032I1A
The community and school district expressed shock and grief over the tragedy. Students and staff were evacuated as part of the large emergency response. The incident prompted an outpouring of sympathy from local residents and officials alike, underscoring the impact of the loss of three children and one adult.
The FBI's local office continued to assist investigators, and the bureau pledged to make every resource they need available. The investigation remained ongoing, with authorities working to determine the full circumstances of the shooting and the identity of anyone who may have fired the shot that downed the suspect.
🚨 BREAKING: Four Victims Killed in Oregon Elementary School Shooting! A shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, claimed the lives of three children and a teacher, while two others were critically injured. Authorities identified the suspected attacker as a 16-year-old who also died; the investigation is ongoing.
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary followed ongoing concerns over gun violence in U.S. schools. In August 2025, a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis killed two students and injured 17 others, a fact noted in coverage of the Oregon incident.
As of the latest updates, the scene remained under police control, with lockdowns lifted at nearby schools and the community beginning to process the loss. Officials continued to monitor the situation and promised to share more information as it became available.