Oregon Gunman Fired Shotgun At Pickup Truck Before Storming Into School And Killing Three Children Ages 5, 8 And 11 And Teacher.

By MELISSA KOENIG, US REPORTER

Published: 23:51 EDT, 15 October 2026 | Updated: 02:04 EDT, 16 October 2026Share

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The teenage gunman who shot and killed three children and a teacher at an Oregon elementary school on Thursday opened fire at a pickup truck before storming into the school, witnesses say.

The unidentified 16-year-old was carrying a shotgun when a man in a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck idling in Silver Rail Elementary School’s parking lot noticed he was heading toward the school, The Source reported. 

Concerned by what he was seeing, the driver then decided to confront the teenager, who in turn fired numerous shots at the civilian and his truck, shattering a rear window and leaving six large bullet holes in his vehicle.

A law enforcement official briefed on the shooting told The Associated Press the teen used a pump-action shotgun that was purchased by his mother. 

Photos shared online showed the Toyota Tacoma SR5 with three bullet holes lining the bottom of the passenger-side door and another two near the front of the door. Two more bullet holes chipped off the paint on the base of the truck’s bed.

The rear passenger-side window was also apparently left completely shattered, with no glass visible. 

After opening fire on the truck, the assailant allegedly threw his gun over the school fence and hopped over – prompting the driver to call Deschutes County dispatchers at around 12.59pm.

As Bend police officers then raced to the scene, the gunman shot at the school’s locked doors – and was reportedly able to gain access.

It is unclear how far into the building he got before he killed three children, ages five, eight and 11, and one teacher whose age was not disclosed.

But he was then gunned down by a good Samaritan whom authorities said followed him into the building.

A seven-year-old and another 54-year-old teacher were also transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. 

A 16-year-old gunman  shot through the locked doors of Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon on Thursday afternoon and was reportedly able to access the school’s special education hallway

Police officers rushed to the scene following reports of a shooting at 1pm, but just moments after they arrived at the school they received word that the gunman had been shot dead by a good Samaritan

The gunman killed three children and a teacher whose age was not disclosed before he was shot down by a good Samaritan. Police are pictured responding to the scene of the elementary school Thursday afternoon

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Cops arrived at the scene by 1.02pm but just moments later they were informed that the lone gunman was shot and killed by an unidentified community member who had followed the teenager into the building.

When officers then entered the building, they were able to confirm that the suspect was dead.

But out of an abundance of precaution, the police officers who rushed to the scene went room by room to evacuate the building as they worked to confirm there were no additional threats to the community.

Other police officers clad in bullet proof vests and carrying assault rifles were seen peering into the vehicles parked at the school’s lot, while parents, teachers and children huddled together, embracing and wiping tears from their faces.

Police had asked the public to avoid the area amid the investigation, but a large crowd of concerned parents were seen gathering outside the school after hearing the reports.

Those worried parents have since rushed to the nearby Journey Church, to be reunited with their loved ones as officials evacuated the youngest children first.

As she waited for her nephew, Mindy Corley, the aunt of a fifth-grader at the school, told NBC News how he was left ‘very scared’ in the aftermath of the shooting.

She said he has a cellphone and was able to tell his mother he was OK, but ‘he was clearly very, very scared and wanted to go home.’ 

Martha Close, a grandmother of a 10-year-old girl at the school, also said that the reunification ‘seemed to take forever,’ during which time, ‘I just prayed.’

Family members reunited with students at the school at a nearby church

Bystanders had earlier gathered outside the elementary school on Thursday following reports of an active shooter

Officers asked the public to avoid the area as the school remains under lockdown, but a large crowd of concerned parents gathered outside the school after hearing the reports

Steven and Angela Nuchols also told how they got their eight-year-old daughter, Charlotte, dressed up for picture day earlier on Thursday.

They then had to race to the school just a few hours later.

‘It was crawling with police officers from all over the country,’ Angela said. ‘You’ve got guys in tactical gear, rifles. You’re just scared to death wondering is your child OK? You don’t know.’

The couple was later reunited with their daughter, but Angela said it was ‘like the worst three hours of our lives.’ 

A motive for the shooting remains unclear, but federal officials are now aiding in the investigation

A police officer at the scene of the school is pictured speaking with a concerned resident following the tragedy

Onlookers gathered outside of the elementary school in the aftermath

A motive for the shooting remains unclear, and authorities would not confirm on Thursday night whether the suspect knew anybody at the school or if he had attended it when he was younger.

Federal agents from the FBI’s Portland Bureau and from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are now investigating the deadly shooting, with FBI Director Kash Patel vowing to ‘make every resource [local law enforcement needs] available.’

They have already determined that the suspect used a pump-action shotgun that was purchased by his mother to commit the violent attack, a law enforcement source told the Associated Press. 

At a news conference on Thursday night, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised the community member she said ‘heroically intervened’ and told how she had visited the school nearly one year ago.

‘My heart is absolutely broken today,’ she said. ‘No parent should have to have this kind of day.’ 

She then said it was time for the community to grieve.

A candlelight vigil was held for the victims of the shooting on Thursday night

Community members have told how they were left shaken from the attack

‘There is going to be time for answering all those questions we all have right now and searching for more ways to prevent this from happening in the future,’ said Kotek, a Democrat. ‘But for now, let’s hold each other close in grief and put as much love into the world as possible.’

Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook also called the incident on Thursday ‘an unthinkable tragedy.

‘No community should have to do what we are doing right now,’ he said at the news conference, visibly shaken by what had happened. ‘I don’t have any words for what this community is feeling right now.’

The school district has now canceled all classes, activities and athletic events that were scheduled for Friday.