An attacker killed three children and an adult at an elementary school in Bend

Three children and an adult were killed Thursday in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, after a suspect entered the school and began firing. The incident occurred at around 1 p.m. local time, and authorities responded after several 911 calls.

According to preliminary information provided by law enforcement sources, the 16-year-old suspect was fatally shot inside the school before police arrived. It is unclear who killed him. Police said it may have been a bystander, while sources cited by CBS News said the teenager was shot by a witness.

At least two people were taken to hospital. The first 911 call reported that an unknown man was shooting at a car, and gunfire was later reported inside the school. The school was placed on lockdown, and authorities established a meeting point for families. Parents and local residents gathered outside the school, while the area was filled with police officers and emergency crews.

The incident comes amid the high frequency of shootings at American schools. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, 235 such incidents were reported in the United States the previous year, and at least 149 in the current year, including the Bend shooting.