Bend-La Pine Schools cancels all classes and activities following shooting
Bend-La Pine Schools district cancels all October 17 classes and activities following the elementary school shooting.
Event / Security
Silver Rail Elementary School Shooting
Shooting incident at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon on October 16, 2026, resulting in at least two hospitalizations with the shooter deceased.
1 reported locations
Daily activity
10 articles0 articles
2026-10-16 to 2026-10-26 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 16 Oct, 01:07 UTC
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What happened
Police respond to school shooting within three minutes
Deschutes County dispatch received the first 911 call at 12:59 p.m. PT from a person in a vehicle reporting being shot at with a long gun. Multiple calls followed reporting a shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School. The school was directed into lockdown at 1:01 p.m., and first responders arrived at 1:02 p.m., confirming the suspect was already dead.
Community member shoots and kills teenage suspect during school attack
An unidentified community member who witnessed the suspect entering Silver Rail Elementary School pursued him into the building and engaged him with gunfire, fatally shooting the 16-year-old suspect. This intervention occurred within minutes of the attack beginning, preventing further loss of life.
Bend-La Pine Schools district cancels all classes and activities for October 17
All schools in the Bend-La Pine Schools district, as well as all activities and athletic events, were canceled on Friday, October 17, 2026, in the aftermath of the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden calls for gun control legislation following shooting
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) called for the passage of common-sense gun laws to reduce the risk of school shootings. He stated that the best way to honor the victims is to pass legislation that would prevent children, parents, teachers, and staff from living in fear of similar incidents.
Pump-action shotgun used in Bend school shooting purchased by suspect's mother
Law enforcement officials disclosed that the weapon used in the shooting was a pump-action shotgun that had been purchased by the suspect's mother. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted an urgent trace on the firearm. In Oregon, minors under 18 can legally possess non-handgun firearms with parental consent for lawful purposes.
Three children and one teacher killed in Bend school shooting
Three children aged 5, 8, and 11 years old, and a 54-year-old teacher were killed in the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School. A 7-year-old child and another teacher were transported to St. Charles Medical Center—Bend with critical injuries. The identities of the victims were not publicly disclosed at the time of reporting.
16-year-old opens fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon
A 16-year-old resident of Bend, Oregon, forced entry into Silver Rail Elementary School by firing at locked doors around 1:00 p.m. PT on October 16, 2026. The suspect opened fire with a pump-action shotgun inside the school, which serves more than 400 students in kindergarten through 5th grade.
Silver Rail Elementary shooting marks 36th school shooting on K-12 grounds in 2026
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School marked the 36th shooting on K-12 school grounds in 2026 and the 52nd school shooting incident in the country that year, according to analysis by CNN drawing on data from the Gun Violence Archive, Education Week, and Everytown for Gun Safety.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek responds to school shooting
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek stated that her heart was 'absolutely broken' over the incident and said no parent should have to experience such a day. She praised the courage of school staff, parents, first responders, and the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life.
Shooter's mother purchased shotgun used in attack
The 16-year-old gunman used a pump-action shotgun that was purchased by his mother around his birthday in August 2026. The mother has been cooperative with law enforcement during investigation of the family's home. She stated that she could not immediately discuss how her son obtained the weapon.
Youngest victim identified as 5-year-old Rhoam Summer
Rhoam Summer, age 5, has been identified as the youngest victim of the shooting. His father, Kelik Summer, confirmed his death on social media Thursday night, stating: 'Today has been the worst day of my life. My son Rhoam was killed in a school shooting.' The child's grandfather described him as 'very bright and very mischievous and very fun-loving, and totally without fear.' An online fundraiser for the family exceeded $35,000 by Friday afternoon.
Bystander Kaylub Giamanco fatally shoots gunman, stops attack
Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter and father of two students at Silver Rail Elementary School, engaged the gunman and fatally shot him, ending the attack. Giamanco was driving home when he heard gunshots and witnessed the shooter entering the school. He pursued the gunman and used his concealed weapon to stop the attack. His family requested privacy and stated he is not seeking recognition.
Community vigil held in Bend following school shooting
Approximately 500 people gathered at a vigil in Drake Park late Thursday following the shooting. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler attended the vigil. Mayor Kebler addressed the crowd, calling it 'a dark day, an awful day' and stating 'there are simply no words for the loss that we have suffered today.'
Mass shooting kills four at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon
A 16-year-old gunman opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon on Thursday, killing three children aged 5, 8, and 11, and one teacher. The suspect forced entry by shooting at locked doors around 1 p.m. local time. Two additional victims—a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher—were hospitalized with critical injuries. An armed bystander at the scene engaged the shooter and killed him, stopping the attack.
Shooter identified as 16-year-old John Griffin II from Bend
The gunman has been identified as 16-year-old John J. Griffin II, a resident of Bend, Oregon. Law enforcement has not yet established whether he had a connection to the school. Investigators are examining his computer, phone, social media, and search history for evidence of obsession with violence and prior mass shootings. No motive has been publicly disclosed.
School shooter used pump-action shotgun purchased by his mother
The 16-year-old shooter used a pump-action shotgun that was purchased by his mother, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the shooting. Police have not determined whether the shooter knew anyone at the school or had previously attended.
Bystander shoots and kills school shooter during elementary school attack
A person at the scene of the Silver Rail Elementary School shooting followed the 16-year-old shooter inside the building and shot him, killing him. Police found the attacker dead inside the school minutes after the shooting was first reported. Officers arrived on scene within minutes of the initial 911 call.
16-year-old shooter kills four at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon
A 16-year-old resident of Bend, Oregon entered Silver Rail Elementary School on Thursday and opened fire, killing three children aged 5, 8, and 11, as well as one teacher. Another 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were injured and taken to the hospital in critical condition. The first 911 call came just before 1 p.m. from someone outside the school reporting being shot at by someone with a long gun.
Community member shoots and kills 16-year-old gunman inside school
A community member chased the 16-year-old shooter into Silver Rail Elementary School and shot him, killing the attacker and stopping the assault. The shooter was found dead inside the school when police arrived on scene. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz confirmed this intervention by the civilian community member.
Active shooter kills four people at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon
A 16-year-old male shooter opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon on Thursday. The shooter forced his way into the school by shooting at locked doors. Four people were killed: a 5-year-old child, an 8-year-old child, an 11-year-old child, and a 54-year-old teacher. Two additional people were hospitalized with critical injuries: a 7-year-old child and a teacher. Police received an initial call at 12:59 p.m. regarding a shot fired into a car outside the school.
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2 alternative perspectives
Mother's legal shotgun purchase enabled 16-year-old's school attack
Legally purchased shotgun by shooter's mother enabled 16-year-old's access to weapon.
Police arrived within three minutes as community intervention ended threat
Police responded within three minutes; community member had already stopped the active shooter.
Bystander identified as Kaylub Giamanco, hero who stopped shooter
Bystander Kaylub Giamanco identified as the armed community member who stopped the school shooter.
Shooter identified as 16-year-old from Bend; mother purchased weapon
Shooter identified as John Griffin II; mother legally purchased the shotgun used in attack.
Four killed in Bend school shooting, including 5-year-old victim
School shooting kills four in Bend, Oregon; youngest victim identified as 5-year-old child.
Armed community member intervenes to stop active shooter at school
Armed bystander fatally shot school gunman, stopping attack after four deaths.
16-year-old gunman used pump-action shotgun in elementary school attack
16-year-old attacker used mother's legally purchased pump-action shotgun in school shooting.
Community member's quick action stops school shooter, preventing further casualties
Community member fatally shot active shooter, preventing further deaths at Bend school.
Shooting incident at Bend elementary school leaves casualties
Shooting at Oregon elementary school leaves two hospitalized; shooter killed.