Four people are dead, including three children, after a shooting Thursday at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. Police responded just before 1 p.m. after the first calls reported someone firing a gun into a car, then more callers said a person had walked into the school and started shooting. The suspect was found shot and killed inside the building, though authorities have not said who fired that fatal shot. At least two people were hospitalized, with children among the injured.
Families were directed to a reunification site at Journey Church on South Highway 97, and police are asking the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues. Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook said the district is “stunned and heartbroken” and that its immediate focus is caring for students, staff, and emergency responders. Senator Ron Wyden also released a statement as the community begins to process what happened.
For those of us on the Suncoast, this story hits a nerve. We know what it looks like when a community gathers after hard news, whether it’s a hurricane, a red tide summer, or a tragedy that happens somewhere else. A school is a school, and a child is a child. If you’ve got kids or grandkids in your life, give them an extra hug tonight.
What’s the best way to support families when tragedy happens far from home? Share your thoughts with us.
