Police in Bend, Oregon, say they are still working out how a 16-year-old got the shotgun he used to kill three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary, even as multiple outlets, citing unnamed officials, say that his mother bought it.
Griffin J. John IIThe shooter, identified by Police Chief Mike Krantz as Griffin J. John II, walked up to the school's fence at 12:58 p.m. Thursday, threw the weapon over it and climbed after it. A pickup driver who confronted him made the first 911 call; he fired at the truck, hitting it at least three times, and the driver was unhurt. He then shot out the glass in the school's locked doors and went into the special needs classroom just inside, where he fired "as many as 15 rounds," Krantz said. Three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, and a 25-year-old teacher were killed. A 7-year-old girl and a 54-year-old staff member were wounded.
Every victim was shot in the special needs classroom of the school John once attended, where he had been a special needs student, according to Superintendent Steven Cook and the police chief. "All of the victims were shot in that classroom," Krantz said, per CBS. No motive has been given; Krantz told reporters, "we may never get that full answer, but we want it."
The gun was a Maverick 88, a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, which Krantz said was found near him with a backpack. John fired birdshot, buckshot and slugs, and ABC reports another 44 rounds were recovered from him and his backpack.
Police have not confirmed
