San Jose-California, Oct 15. (dpa/GNA) – Three children and an adult were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in the US state of Oregon, in addition to the suspected gunman, who was shot dead, CBS News and CNN reported on Thursday, citing investigative sources.
Police initially said at least two people had been injured and taken to a nearby hospital. Children were among the victims, police spokeswoman Sheila Miller said.
The reports of multiple deaths had not been officially confirmed. The shooting appeared to have been carried out by a lone attacker, Miller said.
Shortly after police arrived, officers reported that the suspect had been shot and killed, possibly by a bystander. The circumstances of the shooting and the motive were also unclear.
CBS News reported that the suspected gunman was a teenager who was allegedly shot by a passer-by. According to CNN, the attacker was 16 years old and had already been shot dead by the time emergency responders arrived at the scene.
Police said the initial emergency call reported that a man had fired shots at a car. Shortly afterwards, further callers reported that the suspect had entered the school and opened fire, prompting a large-scale emergency response.
Between 400 and 450 pupils attend Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, according to police. The city, which has a population of more than 100,000, is located in central Oregon.
Gun violence is a persistent problem in the United States, with tens of thousands of victims each year.
Handguns and higher-calibre firearms are readily accessible and in circulation by the millions. Deadly attacks repeatedly spark debates over tightening gun laws, but these discussions generally lead to little change.
Reform efforts ultimately tend to fail because of opposition from the gun lobby and Republicans aligned with its interests. According to a CNN analysis, there have been at least 52 shootings at schools in the US so far this year, leaving at least 28 people dead and 48 others injured.
GNA