Suspect in Oregon elementary school shooting ‘down’ and possibly shot by ‘bystander’, police say

Updated: 17:52 EDT, 15 October 2026

A horrific shooting has seen children among the ‘multiple victims’ at an elementary school in Oregon, as the suspect was confirmed to have been shot and killed.

Shots were fired at Silver Rail Elementary School at 12.59pm, and at 1pm, the police department sent out an alert to respond to a critical scene.

Cops then arrived at the scene by 1.02pm and just moments later, the shooter was killed.

It is unclear who shot the suspect, with officers suggesting at a news conference he may have been taken down by a bystander.

Paramedics were seen setting up a staging area outside of the school, where at least two people were rushed to a local hospital.

Senators offer heartfelt messages to mourning elementary school community

US Senator Jeff Merkley announced that his team was monitoring the situation after shots rung out at Silver Bend Elementary School on Thursday.

‘As details continue to come out, my heart is with the Bend community and all of the students and families affected,’ he said in a statement.

‘No one should have to fear violence at school.’

Later, Senator Chris McDaniel also asked the public to ‘please join me in praying for the children at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon.

‘Pray for the teachers trying to protect them, the parents waiting desperately for word and the officers and first responders rushing to help,’ he posted on social media.

‘We don’t yet know the full story, but somewhere tonight, mothers and fathers just want to hold their babies,’ McDaniel noted.

‘Lord, protect those children. Bring them home safely.’

Children among ‘multiple victims’ of the elementary school shooting as gunman is ‘down,’ police say

Children were said to be among ‘multiple victims’ after shots were fired at Silver Rail Elementary School just before 1pm on Thursday.

Police arrived on scene by 1.02pm and seconds later the gunman was shot by an unknown shooter, officials said.

The gunman was confirmed to have been killed, as it is believed a bystander may have brought the suspect down.

The Bend-La Pine School District also announced on social media that the school has been placed on lockdown, and reports from the scene indicate that at least one class has been released, according to the Bend Bulletin.

Officers have now set up a reunification site for parents of children at the school at nearby Journey Church.

Meanwhile, paramedics were seen setting up a staging area outside of the school, where at least two people were rushed to a local hospital.