Four dead after shooting at Oregon Elementary School

Three children and a teacher were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in the US state of Oregon on Thursday, while two other people were critically injured, authorities said.

The suspected gunman, a 16-year-old boy, was also killed after a community member confronted him inside Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, according to police.

Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), reported the deaths and the circumstances surrounding the attack.

The children who died were aged five, eight and 11, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said.

A seven-year-old pupil and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to St Charles Medical Center in Bend with critical injuries.

Police said the first emergency call was received at approximately 12:59 p.m. local time on Thursday, reporting that someone had fired shots at a vehicle near the school.

Additional emergency calls followed, reporting that an armed individual had entered the building and begun shooting.

The suspect forced his way into the school by firing at locked doors, according to police.

Officers arrived at about 1:02 p.m., but the suspected gunman had already been shot and killed by a community member who followed him into the building.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the teenager had any connection to the school, and his motive remains under investigation.

The shooting prompted an emergency response involving local police and other law enforcement agencies.

Students were escorted out of the building as officials worked to secure the scene and reunite them with their families at a designated location.

Silver Rail Elementary School has approximately 450 pupils and more than 40 staff members, according to information provided by school officials.

Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook said the school community was devastated by the violence.

“We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy,” Cook said, according to OPB's reporting.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also expressed grief, praising school staff, parents and emergency responders for their actions.

She also acknowledged the community member who intervened, saying the decision carried a heavy emotional burden.

In response to the tragedy, classes across the Bend-La Pine school district were cancelled on Friday as the community began to mourn and officials arranged support for those affected.

The governor also ordered flags at public institutions to be flown at half-staff on Friday in honour of the victims.

The attack has renewed concerns about gun violence in American schools.

The K-12 School Shooting Database tracks incidents involving firearms on school property, including cases where a gun is fired or brandished, even when nobody is injured.

Its figures therefore cover a broader range of incidents than trackers limited to shootings that cause injuries or deaths.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing as the community confronts the loss of four victims and the impact on surviving pupils, families and school staff.