Four Dead in Oregon Primary School Shooting
Teacher, three children killed; two others critically injured as 16-year-old gunman forces entry.
Carla Rooney
A shooting at an Oregon primary school left four victims dead, including a teacher and three children.
The victims, aged 5, 8, and 11, died when the suspect fired at locked doors to gain entry. A 7-year-old and a teacher sustained critical injuries; medics transported them to the hospital.
Law enforcement responded to reports of an active shooter at 12:59 local time. Federal agents from the FBI's Portland Bureau and the ATF now assist in the ongoing investigation.
Photos from the scene show a red truck riddled with bullet holes. This aligns with initial reports of a suspect shooting into a car.
Witnesses stated the teenage gunman fired at a pickup truck before storming into special education classrooms. The gunman shot at the school's locked doors, gaining access to the special education hallway.
Police claim the teen armed himself with a pump-action shotgun. His mother reportedly bought the weapon.
Authorities believe the 16-year-old boy found dead was the shooter. A community member intervened, shooting the teen gunman dead.
Mike Krantz stated authorities believed a community member shot the suspect. This individual saw the suspect enter the school, pursued him, and engaged him inside.
Authorities would not confirm on Thursday night whether the suspect knew anyone at the school or if he had attended it when he was younger. A motive for the shooting remains unclear.
The school, which has 400-450 pupils and over 40 staff, canceled all classes, activities, and athletic events for Friday.