A teenager accused of fatally shooting three children and a teacher at an Oregon elementary school on Thursday has been identified as John J. Griffin II, three high-ranking law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation told NBC News.
It was not immediately clear whether the 16-year-old suspected shooter had a connection to Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, where officials said an armed bystander shot the teen and interrupted the shooting.
The victims included children aged 5, 8 and 11. A 7-year-old child and a teacher were seriously injured.
Two senior law enforcement officials told NBC News that the teen’s mother purchased the long gun he used around his birthday in August.
The mother, whose name has not been released, has cooperated with law enforcement so far, according to other law enforcement officials close to the investigation. Those officials said the shooter’s weapon was a shotgun.
Police and other local officials were expected to update the public Friday at a news conference at 5 p.m. local time.
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Police and federal investigators have not publicly identified a motive.
Authorities said the shooter fired through a locked door to enter the school around 1 p.m. local time.
“There are simply no words for the loss we have suffered today,” Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler said at a community vigil hours after the tragedy.
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