Oregon School Horror: What Drove a Teen to Such Tragic Violence?
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Three children and a teacher were murdered at their elementary school Thursday in Bend, Oregon, in an unthinkable act of violence.
A 16-year-old gunman stormed into Silver Rail Elementary School just after 1 p.m. local time, forcing his way in by shooting through locked doors, and gunned down the young kids — one only 5 years old, the others 8 and 11 — and the educator, police said.
An anonymous hero believed to be a student’s father rushed into the building and opened fire on the crazed teen shooter, killing him before cops even arrived, according to radio dispatch audio.
Another student, age 7, and a teacher, 54, were hospitalized in critical condition.
Follow live updates on the Oregon elementary school shooting for the latest news:
Oregon massacre is America's 36th school shooting this year: data
By Kaydi PelletierThursday's mass murder at Silver Lake Elementary in Bend, Oregon, is the 36th shooting on K-12 school grounds in America in 2026, according to a CNN data analysis.
It is the eighth fatal mass shooting in Oregon since 1998.
Thursday was picture day at Oregon school where shooter killed 3 kids, teacher: report
By Joseph BarberioIn a tragic twist, the mass shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School took place on the Bend school's picture day, according to local news outlet The Source.
Parents Steven and Angela Nuchols told the newspaper they sent their daughter Charlotte, 8, to school Thursday morning all dressed up for photos — only to have to rush back just a few hours later when the massacre broke out.
The Nuchols were fortunate to reunite with Charlotte later that afternoon at Journey Church, they said.
Three children — ages 11, 8 and 5 — and one teacher were killed in the shooting. Another student, 7, and teacher, 54, are in critical condition.
Heartbreak in Oregon at candlelight vigil for 3 kids, teacher killed in school shooting: photos
By Joseph BarberioGrieving Bend, Oregon, residents young and old came together on Thursday night for a candlelight vigil honoring the victims of the mass shooting that afternoon at Silver Rail Elementary School.
Three children ages 5, 8 and 11 were shot dead by a 16-year-old gunman. He also killed one teacher.
Another child, 7, and teacher were rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.
Locals left flowers and wrote comforting messages in chalk at a makeshift memorial set up in Drake Park — just a few miles from the scene of the massacre.
The Bend community was joined by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, who spoke to the mourners.
Stunned students, parents reunite after deadly Oregon school shooting: photos
By Joseph BarberioPhotos from the scene of the mass shooting at an Oregon elementary school Thursday show stunned students and parents reuniting after three children under 12 and one teacher were killed.
A reunification location was set up at a church near Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, for family members to pick up their kids.
The shooter, 16, was killed by a heroic bystander — identified in police dispatch audio as a father of one of the school's students.
Silver Rail Elementary teacher describes her 5th graders' terror as she hid them from shooter
By Kaydi PelletierA fifth-grade teacher at Silver Rail Elementary said she saw the gunman walk into the school from her classroom window — and described her students' terror as she moved them to a corner of the room and tried to keep them calm.
Kathy Sheil Smith said she notified the main office when she spotted the shooter, then rallied to protect her terrified tween students by hiding them from the crazed teen killer.
“They were so afraid," she told local CNN affiliate Fox 12 KPTV Thursday night, a few hours after the horrific mass murder.
"The looks on their faces was really hard to see. Some kids were praying, some kids were consoling other kids."
