Trump says armed bystander who killed US school shooter a 'great hero'

US President Donald Trump hailed an armed bystander as a "great hero" on Friday (Oct 16) for shooting dead a teenage gunman who killed three children and a teacher at an Oregon elementary school. The 16-year-old attacker had opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend on Thursday, critically wounding another child and teacher.

Trump said the situation could have been much worse, praising the bystander for taking action. The National Rifle Association (NRA) echoed Trump's sentiment, emphasizing the importance of law-abiding armed citizens in preventing such tragedies. The shooting has reignited discussions about gun violence in the United States, where firearms are prevalent and gun-related death rates are among the highest in the developed world.

Over 360 mass shootings have occurred in the U.S. this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. While public support for stricter gun control measures is high, the NRA opposes additional restrictions and lawmakers have repeatedly failed to act. The deadliest school shooting in U.S. history occurred at Virginia Tech in 2007, when a South Korean student killed 32 people before taking his own life.