Hero dad with gun killed Silver Rail mass shooter, put stop to deadly rampage: dispatch audio

The heroic bystander who ran into the Oregon elementary school on Thursday and shot a mass shooter dead is a student's dad, according to dispatch audio.

The father stormed into the Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon as soon as he saw the 16-year-old suspect go into the school around 1 pm. He shot the suspect dead after the mass shooter gunned down three young children as well as a teacher. The actions were communicated to police before authorities even got to the school.

“Looks like the shooter has been neutralized – possibly shot by a father at the school," emergency dispatchers said in an audio. “Not sure about patients at this time. The police are arriving."

Authorities confirmed that the shooting rampage was ended by “a community member who had seen the suspect enter the school and pursued him into the school and engaged him.”

“To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life, your actions carry a heavy emotional burden and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you,” Governor Tina Koteck said.

It is not clear what weapon the father used to take down the shooter or if he had a permit to carry—two questions Democrat officials may have to grapple with as they give praise to the man who stopped the shooting even though they have very strict gun control laws in the state. Since the shooter was 16 years old, he likely would have obtained the gun illegally.

Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, sparked heavy backlash when he attempted to blame the shooting on Republican policy, even though Oregon is a heavily Democrat-controlled state with heavy gun regulations. 

"My heart is with the victims of today’s shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School and their loved ones now facing the consequences of another school shooting in America. Once again we must ask how many schools must be shot up before Republicans agree to act to curb gun violence," he said. 

The three students who lost their lives were ages 5, 8, and 11, in addition to the teacher who was killed. Another student, aged 7, as well as a 54-year-old teacher, were shot and are in critical condition in the hospital.

“I’m sure that every teacher at the school thought today is the day that I am going to die,” teacher Sheil Smith said. “Save my kids."