Four people have been killed in a shooting at a primary school in the US state of Oregon.

The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School began around 13:00, when police were called by someone who said shots had been fired at their car.

Immediately after, police began receiving emergency calls reporting that the suspect, who police say was a 16-year-old boy, had entered the school.

A bystander saw the shooting begin to unfold, pursued the attacker into the school and shot him dead, police said.

Three minutes later, officers arrived at the scene. They confirmed that the attacker had been killed, and then searched the school.

The victims included three children aged 5, 8 and 11 and one teacher, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said. A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to a local hospital with "critical injuries", he said.

Schools throughout the city of Bend have been closed on Friday, with officials saying the community needs a moment to heal.

We're pausing our live coverage on this page, but you can read the latest here.

In case you missed it, you can watch local police chief Mike Krantz giving an initial update on the victims of the shooting.

We now have more details of what unfolded at the Silver Rail Elementary School.

• Five people were found dead at the scene, including the alleged shooter, police said.
• The victims included three children aged 5, 8 and 11 and one teacher, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said.
• A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to a local hospital with "critical injuries".
• The shooter has been identified as a 16-year-old resident of Bend, and police confirmed that an officer reported "the suspect had been shot by a community member".

• Police said they received a call just before 13:00 from a "person in a vehicle who reported being shot at multiple times by a person with a long gun".
• Police then received dozens of 911 calls from inside the school. Officer arrived three minutes later when the school was already in lockdown.
• Officials are expected to give further information on Friday.

While providing details on the victims, local police chief Mike Kantz said "one seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher" were taken to hospital with "critical injuries".

They were taken to St Charles Bend hospital, Kantz said.

"The family of the victims have all been notified," he continued.

Police are asked what type of gun the suspect used and how many shots were fired.

Local police chief Mike Kantz said a "long gun" was in the shooting but he could not disclose the exact kind of gun right now.

He was also asked if the shooter knew anyone at the school, to which Kantz replied the police "don't have that information yet".

Steven Cook, the top administrative official of the local school district, says "we are heartbroken. We are horrified".

"This is the kind of thing you hear about in other places and pray that it never happens here," he says through tears.

"To the families that have had loss tonight, we are with you and we will stay with you," he continues.

Cook thanks the school staff who protected the students during the shooting.

"Hold your children, hold your loved ones tight tonight," he adds.

The suspect forced his way into the school by shooting at locked doors, Kantz says.

The police chief says that he doesn't have much information to provide on the suspect at the moment, including whether the attacker attended the school or if he knew any students.

He also declined to provide any name for the suspect.

There will be a large police presence at the school over the next days, local police chief Mike Krantz says.

"There are not really any words I can say to you that will make this better" he says.

"This is a time that we know deeply impacts the community. I ask everyone to lean on each other and be there for each other," he finishes.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek speaks next and says lives have been "forever changed".

She says that she and the state are struggling to make sense of the situation.

"Let's hold each other close in grief," she says, asking people to "put as much love in the world as possible".

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management is now co-ordinating with federal and local law enforcement, she says.

Krantz said the alleged shooter was a 16-year-old resident of Bend. He said an officer reported "the suspect had been shot by a community member who had seen the suspect enter the school and pursued him into the school and engaged him".

Police then confirmed that the school was secure by checking each classroom, and that the suspect was dead. Pupils are still being reunited with their parents at a nearby church.

The shooter has been identified as a sixteen-year-old Bend resident, Krantz says.

Officers at the scene found five people dead, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz says.

"Officers entered the building and confirmed the suspect was dead," Krantz says.

"The deceased at the scene included three children aged 5, 8 and 11 and one teacher", he continues.

The press conference has just started.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz begins by appealing for "patience as we work through this very difficult process".

He extends condolences to victims and calls it "a terrible tragedy".

At 12:59 police received a call from a "person in a vehicle who reported being shot at multiple times by a person with a long gun", he says.

Police then received dozens of 911 calls from inside the school. One minute later, the school went into lockdown. Officer arrived three minutes later.

The Mayor of Bend, Melanie Kebler, and local police chief Mike Krantz are giving an update on the shooting.

You can watch along live at the top of this page. We will also bring you the latest updates as they come in.

The attacker is believed to be a 16-year-old boy, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner network.

Other US media have also reported this, however, police have yet to say anything about the identity of the victims or suspect.

We're getting some photos from the scene now showing police, and parents waiting near the school for information.

Parents have been told to pick up their children from a nearby church.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Schools across the district will be closed tomorrow, the local school authority said.

According to the Bend-La Pine School District website there are 33 schools in the area.

"Due to the tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary School, all schools are cancelled tomorrow, Friday," it said, adding that all activities and athletic events would also be cancelled.

About 450 children attend Silver Rail Elementary School, which has more than 40 adult staff members, police say.

According to The Oregonian newspaper, in 2022 the school received new doors and can lock classrooms with a flip of a switch.

FBI agents are assisting local law enforcement with their investigation, FBI Director Kash Patel said.

"We will make every resource they need available," Patel said.

Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler is expected to speak shortly.

We'll bring you the latest updates as they come in.

Some pictures of a red truck with bullet holes parked outside the school are coming through now.

Police said the first call they received indicated an unknown suspect had shot into a car near the school.

Image source, CBS News

Image source, CBS News