Teen kills 4 at Oregon school. And, DOJ sues California over alleged noncitizens

A shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, left four people dead, including three children and one teacher. The incident occurred on October 16, 2026, at approximately 8:30 a.m. local time. According to reports, a 16-year-old student opened fire at the school, resulting in the fatalities.

The Bend-La Pine School District has confirmed that the shooting took place at Bend La Pine Elementary School. The district has released a statement expressing its condolences to the families of the victims and assuring the community that it is cooperating with law enforcement. The police investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made.

The incident has sparked widespread concern and outrage in the community. Local residents have expressed shock and grief, with many taking to social media to share their condolences and support for the families affected. The school district has also set up a support center for students and staff to cope with the trauma.

The incident is not an isolated incident, as the United States has experienced a surge in school shootings in recent years. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 140 school shootings in the 2025-2026 academic year, resulting in 245 fatalities. The causes of these incidents are complex and multifaceted, and experts are still working to understand the root causes.

The Justice Department has also been involved in a separate controversy, suing the state of California over alleged noncitizen voters. The lawsuit, filed on October 15, 2026, alleges that California's voter registration process is not adequately verifying the citizenship status of voters. The DOJ claims that this has led to ineligible individuals casting ballots in state and local elections.

The lawsuit is part of a broader effort by the federal government to crack down on voter fraud. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases of voter impersonation and other forms of election tampering. The DOJ is working to ensure that the electoral process is secure and that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.