Tragic Shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School
A 5th-grade student at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, sent a chilling message to his mother on Thursday afternoon reporting a shooting at his school. “Mom, there was a school shooting; we’re okay, though,” the text read. The alarming news prompted his mother, Jenn Johnston, to quickly turn to social media, where she found the incident widely reported.
Prior to receiving her son’s message, Johnston had been informed through an automated phone call and text that the school was under lockdown. In response to the alarming situation, she and her husband raced to the school, only to be redirected to a nearby church to await further information.
Delayed Reassurance
Parents spent hours in uncertainty, receiving minimal updates from officials on the situation. It wasn’t until approximately 6 p.m. that Johnston finally reunited with her son, who jumped off the school bus and rushed into her arms. “The kids were bussed from the school to the church and were released to parents from youngest to oldest,” she explained, noting that her son, as a 5th grader, was among the last to be released.
Details of the Incident
The shooting occurred around 1 p.m. PT when a suspected teenage gunman allegedly used a long firearm to force his way into the building by shooting through locked doors. Tragically, the attack resulted in the deaths of a teacher and three young students aged 5, 8, and 11. Additionally, two others—a 7-year-old and another teacher—sustained critical injuries.
Eyewitness Accounts
Justin Penfield, a parent, described witnessing a significant police presence upon his arrival at the scene, where he learned that his son’s kindergarten class was already safe outside the building. As he escorted his son back to their vehicle, Penfield noticed a truck with several bullet holes that had come under fire during the incident.
According to Penfield’s account, a nearby bystander claimed to have seen the gunman throw what appeared to be a shotgun over a fence before entering the school grounds. The man approached the suspect to inquire about his actions, only for the gunman to open fire on his vehicle. The bystander quickly fled and called 911.
Community Response
Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler addressed the community during a vigil held that evening, expressing the profound sorrow felt across the city: “This was a dark day for Bend, and there are simply no words for the loss that we have suffered.”
As of now, the identities of the victims and those injured have not been disclosed, while the suspected gunman—a 16-year-old Bend resident—was reportedly shot and killed by a good Samaritan who intervened in the situation.
