Three children and one teacher killed in Oregon school shooting: police

Three children and one teacher were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in the northwestern US state of Oregon on Thursday, police said, in which the shooter was also killed. Police identified the perpetrator as a 16-year-old male.

The attack occurred shortly after 1:00 PM local time. The suspect forced entry into the building by firing shots through locked doors. An armed local community member/bystander observed the teenager entering the school building, pursued him inside, and fatally shot the gunman before police officers could enter the primary floor.

Local emergency dispatchers received the initial alert around 1:00 PM, local time and officers from the Bend Police Department arrived at the scene within minutes to secure the building. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued a statement praising the swift actions of the bystander who intervened, while offering condolences and directing state resources to assist the Bend community.

The local police department, Oregon State Police, and federal agencies (including the FBI) are conducting a joint investigation into the suspect's motive and how the firearm was obtained.