Three children and a teacher were killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, after a teenage gunman entered the building and opened fire inside a classroom, according to the Bend Police Department.
The victims included children aged 5, 8 and 11, along with 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. Two additional victims, a 7-year-old girl and a 54-year-old teacher, were seriously injured. The suspected shooter was also killed, bringing the total death toll to five.
Authorities identified the suspect as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, a former student of Silver Rail Elementary School who was no longer enrolled in the Bend-La Pine school district.
According to investigators, the incident began shortly before 1 p.m. when the suspect approached the school and fired several shots at a passing vehicle. He subsequently entered the school grounds, broke through a set of exterior doors and proceeded into a classroom, where the victims were shot.
Police said the gunman fired approximately 15 rounds during the attack, although investigators were still working to establish the exact number of shots fired inside the classroom.
The shooting ended after a 36-year-old father whose children attended the school intervened. The man had witnessed the initial incident outside the building and followed the suspect into the school with a legally possessed handgun.
Inside the classroom, he encountered a teacher physically struggling with the attacker and fired several shots, fatally wounding the suspect.
Investigators also revealed that the teacher had attempted to disarm the gunman by throwing her cellphone at him before tackling him. She survived the confrontation without injuries.
Police identified one of the youngest victims as 5-year-old Rhoam Summer. The families of the two other children who died requested that their identities remain private.
The injured 7-year-old girl was transported to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital, where she was reported to be in serious but stable condition in the October 16 police update.
The injured teacher, identified as 54-year-old Becky Drury, was receiving treatment at St. Charles Bend for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The deceased teacher, Megan Lambert, was remembered by her family as a compassionate educator who had a particular dedication to helping children with special needs. Her family said teaching at Silver Rail Elementary had been her dream job.
Following the tragedy, students and staff were evacuated, and families were directed to a designated reunification location.
Approximately 150 law enforcement officers and emergency responders became involved in the investigation, with assistance from local, state and federal agencies, including the FBI.
Investigators also searched the suspect’s residence and began examining how he obtained the firearm and ammunition used in the attack. Authorities have not established a motive.
The shooting has left the Bend community mourning the loss of four innocent lives, with residents gathering to remember the victims and support their families.
The investigation remains ongoing.
