Community 'heartbroken and horrified' after Oregon school shooting

Three children and a teacher were killed yesterday in a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, according to police. The attacker, a 16-year-old boy, was later killed by a bystander who engaged him inside the building. Bend police chief Mike Krantz said officers arrived at the scene within minutes of receiving multiple emergency calls about an active shooter.

Police believe the suspect forced his way into the school by shooting at locked doors. The incident has reignited the national debate on gun violence in the United States, where firearms are readily available and the country has the highest rate of gun-related deaths among developed nations. A candelight vigil was held in Bend's Drake Park to remember the victims, with many expressing shock and sadness.

The school district canceled classes and activities in response to the tragedy. This shooting followed another mass shooting on April 16, 2007, at Virginia Tech, which left 32 people dead and 17 wounded. In recent weeks, there have been over 360 mass shootings in the US, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Gun safety advocates have called for action on gun control, but have seen little meaningful change due to strong opposition from the powerful US pro-gun lobby.