On Thursday night, Drake Park in Bend filled with candles and grieving families after a tragic shooting at Silver Rail Elementary claimed the lives of three children and one adult, while injuring two others. The suspected shooter, a 16‑year‑old, also died at the scene.
Rep. Bynum’s heartfelt response
U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum (D‑OR) spoke to KTVZ News after the vigil, describing her own grief as a mother. “I’m a mom. And as a mom, you want to hug your kids,” she said, recalling the simple act of dropping her son off at school with his backpack. “They’re 16, and they never stop being your babies. I mourn the loss of these babies and their teacher.”
Bynum stressed that the way the community responds now and in the weeks ahead will define Bend’s character. “What a community is when you see how it treats its children,” she said. “We’re here tonight to celebrate their lives, to grieve with their families, to show compassion for one another.”
Shared responsibility for child safety
The representative framed child safety as a collective duty that extends beyond parents and schools. “These are all of our babies. These are my babies. And they’re your babies. They’re Oregon’s babies,” Bynum declared. “Whether they’re in public school or private school, at the park or soccer field or on the river, on the mountain – we must protect them.”
Governor Tina Kotek previously noted that a community member intervened during the shooting, helping to prevent further loss of life. Bynum highlighted that act of bravery, urging others to step up.
Call for stronger gun safety measures
Addressing the broader issue of gun violence, Bynum asked, “When are we going to step up and say enough of killing our babies? When are we going to say that we need safe schools, that we need to make sure that people who should not have firearms don’t have them?” She criticized excuses and called for the same courage shown by the bystander who intervened.
She advocated for a deeper study of the root causes of gun violence and meaningful reforms to prevent future tragedies. “We have very serious problems with gun violence in this country,” Bynum said. “I hope that in the future we can really start investigating why, understanding what the root causes are, and making real change.”
Looking ahead
Bynum expressed a wish that the community would soon be celebrating graduations rather than mourning with candles. “It’s almost Halloween, and I know some of those babies had Halloween costumes just ready to go,” she said.
She concluded with a message to teachers, coaches, and mentors who touched the children’s lives, urging the community to remember the joy those children brought. “I want the families to know that they are loved and they are covered, and they will not be let go from this community.”
Support services
Bend‑La Pine Schools announced that counseling will be available at the Central Library on Friday, October 16, for anyone in need of emotional support.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
