Three kids among four killed in shooting at elementary school as suspect gunned down by hero bystander during rampage

THREE children and a teacher are dead after a teenage gunman opened fire at an elementary school in a “terrible tragedy”. Two others are also fighting for their lives following the horror carried out by a 16-year-old gunman in Bend, Oregon on Thursday. The teen opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School at 1pm local time with cops arriving just minutes after the attack started. Tragically, children aged 5, 8, and 11 were killed in the gunfire, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz confirmed in a press conference following the attack. The gunman shot locked doors to force his way into the school before he was stopped just minutes later. He was killed by a bystander who had seen the teen enter the school with a “long gun” and pursued him inside. READ MORE US NEWS Krantz identified the 16-year-old shooter as a Bend resident but would not share any further details about him or his relationship to the school. It has also not been confirmed who the bystander was or any details about how they stopped the gunman. A child, 7, and a teacher, 54, were taken to St. Charles Medical Center in a critical condition following the attack. During the press conference Krantz described the attack as a “terrible tragedy” and extended his condolences to those affected. Most read in The Sun He said: “There are not really any words I can say to you that will make this better.” Police were first alerted at 12.59pm when they received a report from a “person in a vehicle who reported being shot at multiple times by a person with a long gun”. Krantz did not elaborate further about what kind of weapon the “long gun” was. They then received dozens of 911 calls from inside the school. At 1.01pm the school went into lockdown and officers arrived just a minute later. Inside they found the four dead victims. Authorities evacuated the school and transported students to a nearby church which was used as a reunification point for families. “Hundreds” of cops, including the FBI, swooped on the school following reports of a gunman opening fire. About 450 children attend the school in Bend. Bend-La Pine Superintendent Steven Cook said: “Today an unthinkable tragedy happened at Silver Rail Elementary School. “No community should have to do what we are doing right now. I don’t have any words for what this community is feeling right now. “We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy.”