At least five people, including three children and a teacher, were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in the western U.S. state of Oregon. The gunman was among the dead.
The shooting occurred at about 1 p.m. on the 15th at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, about 200 kilometers southeast of Portland, Oregon, according to The Associated Press and CNN.
The gunman fired at vehicles parked outside the school before entering the building and continuing to shoot. Police who responded to emergency calls found the gunman dead at the scene. The gunman was identified as a 16-year-old male.
Initial police statements did not clarify whether the gunman was shot by police or by a third party, but the AP later reported that a local resident had shot him.
The AP reported that three children aged 5, 8 and 11 and one teacher were killed, and that the gunman also died, bringing the total death toll to five. One child and one teacher were also injured and taken to a hospital, and the extent of their injuries was not confirmed, the news agency said.
The AP had earlier cited law enforcement officials as saying at least five people were killed, though it was unclear at the time whether that figure included the gunman. CNN and some other outlets reported four deaths, including three children and one adult.
The Bend-La Pine School District, which oversees the school, placed the campus on lockdown immediately after the incident, while police and firefighters responded to the scene and evacuated students and staff.
Superintendent Steven Cook expressed condolences to the families of the victims in a statement, saying the district's most important task at present is protecting students and staff and supporting police and emergency responders.
Silver Rail Elementary School serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade and has about 460 enrolled students. About 80% of its students are white, and roughly 20% come from low-income families.
Police are investigating the exact motive and circumstances of the attack.