Follow-Up: At Least Five Believed Dead in Bend Elementary School Shooting, Officials Tell AP; Police Have Not Confirmed a Toll

BEND, Ore. — New casualty figures have emerged from the October 15 shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. The Associated Press reported that two law enforcement officials with knowledge of the case said at least five people were believed dead. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly, stressed that the figure was preliminary and could change. The Bend Police Department had not formally confirmed any death toll as of publication.

On the makeup of the toll, Reuters reported in its latest update that CNN and CBS, citing law enforcement sources, said those killed included three children and one adult. CNN and USA Today, citing multiple law enforcement sources, reported that the gunman was a 16-year-old male who used a shotgun and was shot and killed inside the school by a bystander who was legally carrying a concealed weapon. On that account, the four victims plus the gunman would total five deaths, matching the AP figure; the AP report did not say whether its count included the shooter, and Bend police have not confirmed that breakdown, nor released the gunman's identity or age.

Bend police spokesperson Sheila Miller told reporters: "We don't have a number at this point. We know children are among the victims." What police have formally confirmed is that multiple people were wounded, that at least two people were taken to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend with their conditions not released, and that who shot the gunman — an officer, a bystander, or the gunman himself — remains under investigation with no determination yet. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office has likewise not confirmed details about the shooter or the casualty count.

The FBI's Portland division is on the scene assisting the investigation, and FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau would make every resource available to local authorities. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said she is closely monitoring the situation. Bend-La Pine Schools has closed all district schools on October 16 and canceled activities and athletic events, and the family reunification point at Journey Church remains in operation. Superintendent Steven Cook said in a statement that the district was stunned and heartbroken by the tragedy.

Background: Bend police said dispatchers received a call at 12:59 p.m. reporting a shot fired into a car outside the school; around 1 p.m., multiple 911 calls reported a person shooting inside the school and dispatch issued an all-officer alert; officers arrived at 1:02 p.m., and the gunman was down inside the school moments later. Silver Rail Elementary, at 61530 SE Stone Creek Lane in southeast Bend, enrolls about 400 to 450 students with about 40 staff members. GSM's first report covered the initial official account; this is a follow-up on the same incident thread and will be updated when police issue a formal casualty statement.

(Sources: Associated Press reporting; Bend Police Department briefing and statements; Reuters reporting; Bend-La Pine Schools statement)

Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: 图：流经俄勒冈州本德市的德舒特河（资料照片）。Everwest摄，CC BY 4.0，取自维基共享资源。File photo: the Deschutes River flowing through Bend, Oregon. Photo by Everwest, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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