Photo Credit: Getty Images
A teenage gunman killed three children and a teacher when he opened fire at an elementary school in Oregon on Thursday afternoon.
The unidentified shooter, 16, shot at the locked doors of Silver Rail Elementary School in the city of Bend on Thursday afternoon before killing three children, ages five, eight and 11, and one teacher whose age was not disclosed.
He was then gunned down by a good Samaritan whom authorities said followed him into the building.
A seven-year-old and another 54-year-old teacher were also transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.
A motive for the shooting remains unclear, and authorities would not confirm on Thursday night whether the suspect knew anybody at the school or if he had attended it when he was younger.
'Today is an awful day for our community,' Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler declared. 'Our hearts are broken as we mourn this tragedy and the profound impact it has had on so many people, especially the children, families, educators and school staff whose lives have been forever changed.
'A school should be a safe place where children can learn and feel secure,' Kebler continued, as she called for the community to lean on one another.
'We are here for you. We grieve alongside you and we will get through this together.'
The tragedy began when a man driving a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck in the school parking lot spotted the teen carrying a long gun approach the building, according to The Source.
The driver then confronted the teenager, who in turn fired numerous shots at the civilian and his truck, shattering a rear window and leaving six large bullet holes in the vehicle.
At that point, the assailant allegedly threw his gun over the school fence and hopped over - prompting the driver to call Deschutes County dispatchers at around 12.59pm.
Within just one minute, the Bend police department sent out an alert to respond to a critical scene.
But as officers then raced to the school, the suspect forced his way into the building by shooting at locked doors - at which point dispatchers started receiving 'dozens' of 911 calls, Police Chief Mike Krantz said at a news conference Thursday night.
Cops arrived at the scene by 1.02pm and just moments later, the lone shooter was killed by an unidentified community member.
The school was placed under lockdown following the shooting, as police officers went room by room to evacuate the building, Miller said. The school has a student body of between 400 to 450 pupils and a staff of more than 40.
Officers clad in bullet proof vests and carrying assault rifles were also seen in the aftermath peering into the vehicles parked at the school's lot, while parents, teachers and children huddled together, embracing and wiping tears from their faces.
