Silver Rail Elementary School Shooting: 911 Calls Reveal First Moments of the Attack That Left 5 Dead in Bend, Oregon

A shooting at an Oregon elementary school has left five people dead, including three children, as investigators piece together the first moments of the attack.

New details from 911 calls reveal how the violence unfolded at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, while questions remain about who stopped the suspected shooter.

At least five people died in the October 15 shooting, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB). The reported fatalities include three children, one adult, and the suspected shooter.

Police reached the school within minutes of the first emergency call. Students were evacuated as officers secured the building and school officials arranged a reunification site for families.

A timeline released by the Bend Police Department provides the first account of what callers reported before officers arrived.

Police Arrived Within Three Minutes of the First Emergency Call

Bend Police received reports of an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School, located at 61530 SE Stone Creek Lane, at approximately 12:59 p.m. Thursday.

Within the next minute, Deschutes County Dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting that someone had entered the school and begun shooting.

Dispatch issued an alert directing law enforcement officers to the scene. By 1:02 p.m., Bend Police had arrived.

The department initially confirmed multiple victims, including children. At least two people were taken to St. Charles Bend hospital, but their conditions were not immediately known.

Students Were Evacuated as Families Gathered for Reunification

Bend-La Pine Schools arranged buses to transport students to Journey Church at 61303 S. Highway 97. Families and guardians were instructed to go there for reunification.

Officials warned that police would maintain a large presence around the school and church and asked the public to avoid both areas.

Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook addressed the impact on students, staff, and families in a statement shared by police.

"We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy," Cook said. "We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and to everyone affected by this violence. No words can adequately express the grief our community is experiencing."

Cook said the district's immediate priorities were caring for students and staff and assisting emergency responders.

The First 911 Call Described Gunfire Outside the School

The earliest emergency report contained a detail that placed the first reported gunfire outside the school building.

According to the Bend Police Department, the first caller reported that an unknown man had shot into a car.

Within the following minute, dispatchers received multiple calls reporting that a person had entered Silver Rail Elementary and begun shooting.

Questions Surround Who Shot the Suspect

Bend Police officers arrived at approximately 1:02 p.m. Seconds later, they reported that the suspect had been shot and killed, possibly by a bystander, according to the department's initial statement.

However, who fired the fatal shot has not been confirmed. In its 5:15 p.m. update, OPB reported that the circumstances surrounding the suspect's death were still unknown.

Four law enforcement sources told OPB that the suspected shooter was a minor, with one source identifying the suspect as 16 years old. All four requested anonymity because the information had not yet been made public.

The first 911 calls have shed light on how the shooting unfolded. But as of this writing, the motive behind the attack remains unknown.