A shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, during class has resulted in at least five fatalities.
According to the Associated Press and local newspaper The Oregonian, a gunman entered Silver Rail Elementary School around 1 p.m. local time on the 15th, approximately 200 kilometers southeast of Portland, and opened fire.
Initially, AP reported that two people were injured, but later updated the number to five. The shooter was killed by police at the scene.
Reports indicate that the shooter is a teenager. After firing at a vehicle parked outside the school, the gunman entered the building and was shot by police just minutes after they arrived in response to the emergency call. It remains unclear whether the shooter was struck by police gunfire or if it was from a third party.
Rescue authorities are evacuating students from classrooms at the school, which has an enrollment of about 400. The shooting occurred just over an hour before dismissal time.
The Bend-La Pine School District has placed the school on lockdown.
Superintendent Steven Cook expressed condolences to the families and all those affected, stating, "Our immediate priority is to care for our students and staff and to support law enforcement and emergency responders."
Silver Rail Elementary serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade, with a total enrollment of 462. According to The Oregonian, about 80% of the students are white, and 20% come from low-income families, based on state data.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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