Shooter killed inside Bend Oregon elementary school as police evacuate, multiple injured

A gunman opened fire outside Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, before entering the building, and was killed by police inside the school on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Police were on scene by 1:02 p.m., and the shooter was down seconds later, according to a Bend law‑enforcement representative.

The incident left at least two people, including children, hospitalized, though the full count of injured or deceased remains unconfirmed. Bend Police Department communications manager Sheila Miller said the victims were taken to St. Charles Medical Center, and conditions were still unknown.

“We received the first report at 12:59 of a shooter outside of the building shooting into a car, and within about a minute, we were receiving multiple 911 calls from within the school. Our officers were on scene at 1:02, and the shooter was down seconds later,” a law‑enforcement representative told local media.

State and federal leaders quickly responded. Senator Jeff Merkley posted on X that his team was monitoring the situation and expressed his heart goes out to the community. FBI Director Kash Patel added that the Portland‑based FBI bureau was on the scene and would provide any needed resources.

“My team and I are closely monitoring reports of an active shooter situation at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend,” Merkley wrote. “No one should have to fear violence at school.”

“We will make every resource they need available,” Patel said.

Authorities established a reunification center at Journey Church on South Highway 97 to help families locate and support each other while the school remained on lockdown. Investigators are still determining how the shooter died, with some reports suggesting a bystander may have been involved. The Bend Police Department continues to gather evidence and will provide updates as the investigation proceeds.