Newz(AP) — Officials are lauding the actions of a local who they say chased down and shot a teenage gunman who killed three children and a teacher at an Oregon elementary school.A day after the mass shooting that also critically wounded a fourth student and another teacher, well-wishers laid flowers Friday against the sign outside of Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, an outdoorsy city of about 100,000 in central Oregon that is ringed by mountains.At a news conference hours after Thursday's attack, Gov. Tina Kotek praised the person who followed the gunman into the school, saying they helped end the rampage as police began arriving on the scene and likely saved lives.“To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life: Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well,” said Kotek.Like police, the Democratic governor didn't provide any details about the person who intervened, including whether they have a link to the school and whether it was a shot they fired that killed the attacker.Memorials with flowers, balloons and stuffed animals popped up around the school, which sits in a densely packed neighborhood filled with newly built homes.Brooke Olsen, whose daughter is a kindergartener at Silver Rail, said she was amazed that a member of the public pursued the shooter.“I think it’s miraculous that someone was there before law enforcement even arrived to stop further tragedy from happening," Olsen said Friday, weeping at times. "I’m feeling very grateful.”The shooter used a gun bought by his momThe 16-year-old suspect, identified only as a Bend resident, was found dead inside the school minutes after the first calls for help, Police Chief Mike Krantz said.
Police said he got into the school by shooting through locked doors.The children who were killed were ages 5, 8 and 11, Krantz said. Authorities didn’t give details about the teacher who was killed. Another 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were wounded in the attack and were taken to a hospital in critical condition, he said.The attacker used a pump-action shotgun that was purchased by his mother, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the shooting.
The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investiga… A 16-year-old opened fire at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, killing three children and a teacher before he was shot by a person at the scene who pursued him into the school, according to the chief of police.The three children killed were aged 5, 8 and 11. Another child, 7, and a teacher, 54, were injured and taken to the hospital in critical condition, authorities say.Police said they did not know if the shooter, a Bend resident, knew anyone at the school or whether he had attended.The Latest:Trump praises ‘great hero’ who helped after Oregon school shootingPresident Donald Trump told reporters at the White House he had been briefed on the shooting and praised the actions of a “great hero” who he said “took care of business.”“It’s a terrible thing, but thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it,” Trump said, saying the tragedy otherwise likely would have been much worse.The shooter used a gun bought by his momThe 16-year-old suspect, identified only as a Bend resident, was found dead inside the school minutes after the first calls for help, Police Chief Mike Krantz said.
Police said he got into the school by shooting through locked doors.The attacker used a pump-action shotgun that was purchased by his mother, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the shooting. “I’m feeling very grateful.”Officials will provide an update on the shootingOfficials plan to hold a news conference at 2 p.m. PDT Friday at the Bend Municipal Court about the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary.
They say they will provide the latest information and share resources that are available for community members.The shooting was the 28th mass killing… Tina Kotek praised the person's response as police arrived at the scene, saying they helped end the rampage and likely saved lives.“To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life: Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well,” said Kotek.Like police, the governor didn't provide any details about the person who intervened, including whether they have a link to the school and whether it was a shot they fired that killed the attacker.The shooter used a gun bought by his momThe 16-year-old suspect, identified only as a Bend resident, was found dead inside the school minutes after the first calls for help, Police Chief Mike Krantz said. Police said he got into the school by shooting through locked doors.The three children who were killed were ages 5, 8 and 11, Krantz said.
More 911 calls came from inside the school, and officers arrived within minutes, police spokesperson Sheila Miller said.The attacker was shot and went down inside the school shortly after officers arrived, she said.The school has students in kindergarten through fifth grade, with about 450 enrolled last year, according to the Oregon Department of Educa…
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