Officials are lauding the actions of a local who they say chased down and shot a teenage gunman who killed three children and a teacher at an Oregon elementary school.
asserted
who → laud → school
At a news conference hours after Thursday’s attack at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Gov. Tina Kotek praised the person’s response as police arrived at the scene, saying they helped end the rampage and likely saved lives.
“To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life: Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well,” said Kotek.
asserted
Kotek → praise → you
Like police, the governor didn’t provide any details about the person who intervened, including whether they have a link to the school and whether it was a shot they fired that killed the attacker.
asserted
that → provide → attacker
The shooter used a gun bought by his mom
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shooter → use → mom
The 16-year-old suspect, identified only as a Bend resident, was found dead inside the school minutes after the first calls for help, Police Chief Mike Krantz said.
asserted
Krantz → identify → help
Police said he got into the school by shooting through locked doors.
asserted
he → say → doors
The three children who were killed were ages 5, 8 and 11, Krantz said.
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Krantz → kill → ?
Authorities didn’t give details about the teacher who was killed.
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who → give → teacher
Another 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were wounded in the attack and were taken to a hospital in critical condition, he said.
asserted
he → wound → condition
The attacker used a pump-action shotgun that was purchased by his mother, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the shooting.
uncertain
that → use → shooting
The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.
asserted
they → speak → investigation
Under Oregon law, a minor may possess a shotgun if provided by a parent or by someone else with the parent’s consent.
uncertain
minor → possess → consent
Police said they didn’t know if the shooter knew anyone at the school or if he had attended it.
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he → say → it
Police respond within minutes
asserted
Police → respond → minutes
The first 911 call came early in the afternoon from someone outside the school who reported being shot at by someone with a long gun, the police chief said.
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chief → come → gun
More 911 calls came from inside the school, and officers arrived within minutes, police spokesperson Sheila Miller said.
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Miller → come → minutes
The attacker was shot and went down inside the school shortly after officers arrived, she said.
asserted
she → shoot → school
The school has students in kindergarten through fifth grade, with about 450 enrolled last year, according to the Oregon Department of Education.
uncertain
450 → have → Education
Children were taken by bus to a nearby church serving as a reunification center for families.
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Children → take → families
Parents hugged, kissed and held their kids’ hands as they walked to their cars, with some bringing along favorite stuffed animals or other comfort items from home.
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some → hug → home
A community grieves
Shaken residents held a vigil Thursday night, where children drew hearts in chalk on the sidewalk and held candles side-by-side with adults.
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children → grieve → adults
Police tape blocked off the school on Friday, and flowers had been laid against the sign out front.
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flowers → block → front
Classes and all other activities were canceled Friday for the area’s 32 schools.
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Classes → cancel → schools
Bend, which has about 100,000 residents, is the biggest city in central Oregon.
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which → have → Oregon
Ringed by mountains, it has ballooned in population over the past three decades and is a tourism and outdoor recreation hub, about 125 miles (200 kilometers) southeast of Portland.
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it → ring → Portland
The shooting was the 28th mass killing in the U.S. this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
uncertain
shooting → accord → University
Just four years ago in Bend, a grocery store employee who had served in the U.S. Army attacked a gunman who was spraying shots inside the supermarket.
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who → serve → supermarket
Both the employee, whom police hailed as a hero, and a customer were killed, and the gunman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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gunman → hail → wound
___
Durkin and Tucker reported from Washington.
asserted
Durkin → report → Washington
Associated Press reporters Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City, Gene Johnson in Seattle, Ed White in Detroit and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed.
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Schoenbaum → contribute → Toledo
The Aporia
