Bend school shooting: teenage gunman killed three children and a teacher in special needs class

A 16-year-old former pupil opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon, killing three children and a teacher before an armed parent chased him into the building and shot him dead.

Police said the attack began at 12:59 p.m. when Deschutes County dispatch received a 911 call from someone in a vehicle who reported being shot at multiple times by a person with a long gun. Over the next few minutes, dozens of calls came in reporting that a shooter had entered Silver Rail Elementary on southeast Stone Creek Lane. Dispatch sent an alert to all law enforcement at 1 p.m. Officers directed the school to lock down at 1:01 p.m., and the first officers arrived at 1:02 p.m.

The gunman, identified by police as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, had previously attended the school. Police said he shot through locked doors to force his way in. Once inside, he killed three students and a teacher in a special needs classroom. The children who died were aged five, eight and 11. A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to St Charles hospital in Bend in a critical condition. Families of the dead had been notified.

The suspect was killed by a community member who saw him enter the school and followed him inside. That person was later identified as Caleb Gemanko, also reported as Caleb Gimanko, a father of two pupils at the school. He was on his lunch break when he heard gunfire at his daughter's school, and he confronted the teenage gunman before police arrived. His family said he was not seeking recognition and wanted privacy and a chance to thank the community. An official told the community member that his actions carried a heavy emotional burden and that thoughts were with him.

Police Chief Mike Krantz set out the timeline at a news conference. He said the first call came from outside the school, reporting someone firing at a car. A red vehicle outside was later seen with bullet holes. The shooter then entered the building. Police said he fired before and inside the school. Officers arrived within about three to four minutes of the first call. By then, the suspect had been shot by the armed community member. Officers entered the school, confirmed the suspect was dead, and went door to door to ensure students had evacuated safely. Students and staff were taken by bus to a nearby church for reunification with families.

The attack was over in minutes. The FBI is assisting the investigation. Police expect a large presence at the school for several days. Every Bend police officer had completed a full day of active threat training, and the police chief said he wished that training had never been needed. Classes were cancelled, and schools across Bend were closed on Friday. Officials said the community needed a moment to heal. A vigil was planned, and hundreds gathered at a local park, with local reports describing thousands. People prayed, sang and sat in silent contemplation, lighting candles. The mood was solemn.

The shooting has left Bend in shock and has revived memories of another mass shooting in the city four years ago at a local grocery store. Officials said the loss was hard to put into words. One official said: 'We are heartbroken. We are horrified. This is the kind of thing you hear about in other places and pray that it never happens here.' Another said: 'All Oregonians mourn this loss today. This is a horrible day. No parent should have to have this kind of day and no community should have to live through this kind of day.'

The suspect's motive and his exact connection to the school remain under investigation. Police have not said why he targeted Silver Rail Elementary. The shooting adds to a long pattern of US school violence. One count cited during coverage said there were 235 school shootings last year and 149 so far this year, including the Bend attack. Another count said there had been 140 shooting incidents at American schools so far this year. The figures vary because of different definitions, but the attack has become another fatal school shooting in the United States.