Police say a teen gunman targeted a special education classroom at a Bend, Oregon, elementary school, killing four

What happened at Silver Rail Elementary

Four people were killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, according to PBS NewsHour. Officials said three young children and a teacher died. A 7-year-old and another teacher were taken to the hospital with critical injuries.

Police identified the attacker as a 16-year-old who had previously attended the school, where authorities said he was a special needs student. Police said he attacked a special education classroom and was killed at the scene. Two of the victims were identified: 5-year-old Rhoam Summer and teacher Megan Lambert, who was 25.

How police say the attacker got inside

Shooting through the entry doors

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said at a press conference that the shooter broke through the school's security. "He fired multiple rounds into the glass panes in the doors to gain access to the school," Krantz said, as aired by PBS NewsHour. The chief said the suspect went straight into the classroom just to the left of the entry doors and fired as many as 15 rounds.

The weapon

PBS NewsHour reported that the attacker reportedly used a shotgun. Authorities said the shotgun he allegedly used was registered to his mother. Police arrived within minutes, but by the time officers entered the building, the suspect was already dead.

The bystander who stopped the attack

What the police chief described

Authorities said the shooter was killed by a bystander who saw him enter the school, followed him inside and shot him. Krantz said the man heard gunfire after coming through the forced-open doors and saw a teacher in a physical struggle with the suspect. The bystander then went to that classroom and fired, striking the suspect multiple times, according to the chief.

PBS NewsHour said multiple news reports identified the bystander as Kaylub Giamanco. According to his mother, he has two daughters who attend Silver Rail. Many local officials praised his actions.

Reaction from President Trump

President Trump called Giamanco a hero, PBS NewsHour reported. "Otherwise, it would have been much worse," Trump said, adding, "thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it."

A community in mourning

Students and parents

A Silver Rail student named Aizen told PBS NewsHour that he locked the door and hid behind lockers with his classmates. "All of my classmates and my teacher were safe, but we were definitely scared," he said. Brooke Olsen, whose daughter is a kindergartner at the school, said, "It didn't feel like it could be happening here at our school."

Governor's message and school closures

People gathered in a park near the school to sing hymns and pray. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, urged residents to "take care of each other because it's going to be hard." All schools in the district were closed for the day, and the campus was cordoned off as a crime scene, with flowers, candles and notes left outside.

The Associated Press counts the shooting as the 28th mass killing in the U.S. this year, PBS NewsHour reported. For coverage closer to home, see our public safety section and our schools coverage.

What to watch next

• Bend police say they are still investigating the shooter's motive.
• A 7-year-old student and a teacher were taken to the hospital with critical injuries.
• Officials have publicly identified two of the four people killed, and the remaining victims have not been named in the reporting.