Gunman kills four, including three children, in Oregon elementary school shooting

A 16-year-old gunman killed four people, including three children, in a shooting on Thursday at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. Police said an armed local resident pursued the attacker into the school and fatally shot him, preventing further casualties.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz told a press conference that the children killed were aged five, eight, and eleven, along with one teacher. A seven-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher were also injured and taken to hospital in critical condition.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised the bravery of the citizen who intervened to stop the attack, stressing that such incidents should not be repeated in communities. Police have not released the identity of the person who confronted the shooter.

School shootings are a recurring issue in the United States, with each incident sparking debate over gun laws and the constitutional right to bear arms. Silver Rail Elementary School serves around 450 students and 40 staff, and enrolls children from kindergarten through fifth grade.