Oregon gunman fired shotgun at pickup truck before storming into school and killing three children ages 5, 8 and 11 and teacher

A 16-year-old gunman opened fire on a pickup truck in the car park of Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, before entering the building on Thursday. He killed three children, aged five, eight and 11, and a teacher; the attack has left the community mourning and raised urgent questions about school safety.

Witnesses said the driver confronted the teenager, who fired several shots, breaking a window and leaving bullet holes in the truck. Police said the gunman, reportedly carrying a shotgun bought by his mother, shot through locked school doors. A community member followed him inside and shot him dead. A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to hospital with critical injuries.