A 16-year-old suspected shooter also died. Bend police said a bystander followed him into the school and fatally shot him, according to information shared by a public safety reporter Friday morning. Another child and a teacher were hospitalized.

Police had not identified the suspect or publicly explained a possible motive as of Friday morning. It was also unclear whether he had a connection to the school. Investigators were working to establish what happened before the attack; the suspect had reportedly fired at least one vehicle in the area before entering the school.

Hundreds of residents gathered Thursday night at Drake Park for a candlelight vigil led by local clergy. Attendees sang hymns, prayed and mourned alongside Gov. Tina Kotek and Bend’s mayor, who offered condolences. Faith leaders also offered spiritual support to grieving families and residents.

For some, the loss brought back memories of the 2022 shooting at a Bend Safeway. Kyra Peterson, a new mother whose family members worked at the store, said the school attack was still shocking. She attended the vigil to support parents who had lost children, reflecting on how painful it was to imagine such a loss.

Payton Stewart, a student at Mountain View High School, said preparations for school shootings—including drills and conversations with parents—have become a routine part of students’ lives. She said classmates who have survived shootings continue to struggle with trauma.

The vigil offered a place for neighbors to gather as they faced questions about the attack and what comes next. Local nanny Gracie Cromie said the close-knit nature of Bend makes a tragedy like this especially difficult, and that local pastors had brought faith communities together to support residents.