At least three people, including children, are dead following a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, according to preliminary information from multiple sources. The suspected shooter was killed at the scene.

Authorities reported that the incident began shortly before 1 p.m. Pacific Time when police received a call about a shot fired into a car outside the school. Within a minute, multiple 911 calls came from inside the school, reporting that an individual had entered the building and begun shooting.

Bend Police Department spokesperson Sheila Miller stated that officers arrived on the scene within minutes. Within seconds of their arrival, the suspect was "down," Miller said, adding that it remains unclear who fired the fatal shot. Multiple victims, including children, sustained injuries. At least two victims were transported to an area hospital with injuries of unknown severity.

Law enforcement officials were seen evacuating the school on a room-by-room basis. A reunification site for concerned families was established at a nearby church. The shooting prompted a significant law enforcement response, with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reportedly on site or en route to assist in the investigation.

Eyewitnesses described a scene of shock and organized response. Caleb Weis, who was riding his motorcycle near the school, observed that "everything they were doing seemed highly trained and highly prepared for this." He noted an "immense amount of respect for the law enforcement, first responders" and a lack of widespread phone recording, suggesting a palpable shock among those present.

Steven Cook, Superintendent of Bend-La Pine Schools, issued a statement expressing the district's devastation. "No words can adequately express the grief our community is experiencing," Cook said. "Our immediate priorities are caring for our students and staff and assisting law enforcement and emergency responders." In response to the tragedy, all classes, activities, and athletic events within the Bend-La Pine Schools district were canceled for Friday.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is ongoing. Officials have not yet released the identities of the victims or the suspected shooter, nor have they specified the motive behind the attack. The timeline indicates a rapid escalation from the initial report of a single shot to the suspect being neutralized within minutes.

This incident marks a tragic event for the Bend community and raises further concerns about school safety. The presence of multiple agencies, including the FBI and ATF, underscores the seriousness of the investigation into this elementary school shooting.