Crime
18-year-old Tyler Bathke arrested after a threat led to an East High School lockdown
UPDATE: Last week, Cheyenne Police Officers began an investigation into a threat that occurred at East High School located at 2800 East Pershing Boulevard.
On Tuesday, the wanted subject, Tyler Bathke, 18, of Cheyenne, turned himself in on a felony warrant.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
On Thursday, September 26 at approximately 1:18 p.m., a School Resource Officer (SRO) at East High received a report that a male student, later identified as Bathke, was carrying a gun in his waistband and made several concerning statements to other students – one of which indicated that a school shooting was going to occur.
SROs and school administrators met immediately to assess the potential threat.
Within minutes, East High was placed into a lockdown and the nearby Carey Jr. High School was placed into a secure perimeter.
Additional officers were called to the scene and quickly located Bathke.
Following a sweep of the school and surrounding areas, it was determined that there was no evidence of a gun in his possession, but officers did verify that threatening statements were made.
Due to the disruptive nature of this incident and mass panic created within the schools, officers applied for an arrest warrant for Bathke the following day.
On Tuesday, October 1, Bathke turned himself into the Laramie County Jail.
He was arrested and booked without incident on a felony charge of making terroristic threats.
โSchool threats carry very real consequences,โ said Chief Mark Francisco. โThis incident caused unnecessary fear, panic, and disruption in our community and placed a burden on school and police resources. We will always take violent threats seriously and will continue to work closely with our partners in education.โ
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Students play an essential role in reporting information to authorities. Social media threats or concerning statements should always be reported to an SRO or submitted through the Safe-2-Tell Hotline (844-996-7233) (844-WYO-SAFE).
Crime
5 dead including 3 children in Silver Rail Elementary shooting in Bend, teenage shooter killed by a Good Samaritan
BEND, Ore. โ Five people were reportedly killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, according to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement.
The reported shooting prompted a major emergency response involving police, fire crews, and emergency medical services.
Authorities issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m., warning of a large police presence at the elementary school and urging the public to avoid the area.
According to the information provided, four victims were killed at the school. Three of those victims were children, while the fourth was an adult. The suspected gunman, described in preliminary reports as a teenager, was also reported dead, bringing the reported total to five fatalities.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the identities of the victims and the suspect, had not been fully established in the information available.
Preliminary reports indicated that the suspected gunman was a teenager and was killed after being confronted by a Good Samaritan.
Earlier scanner traffic reportedly indicated that the suspect had been neutralized. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the individual who intervened may have been a father of a student at the school.
However, authorities had not publicly confirmed all the circumstances surrounding the confrontation or independently verified the reported identity and role of the person who intervened.
Investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events leading up to the shooting, how the suspect was stopped, and whether the suspect acted alone.
The first police alert was issued at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday. It described a large police presence at Silver Rail Elementary School and instructed the public to stay away from the area.
Fire and emergency medical services personnel were seen responding near the school as authorities worked to address the reported threat and assist those affected.
The shooting prompted urgent concern among families and the surrounding community, particularly after reports indicated that children were among the victims.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced a reunification site for students and their families at Journey Church, located at 61303 S. Highway 97 in Bend, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Parents and guardians were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with students and receive further information.
Authorities urged families to follow official instructions and avoid approaching the school while emergency operations continued.
The reported shooting also prompted precautionary security measures at nearby schools. Parents received alerts indicating that Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary School had been placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon.
The lockdowns were reported as law enforcement responded to Silver Rail Elementary and worked to secure the surrounding area.
Further information was needed to establish how long the lockdowns remained in effect and when normal school operations resumed.
Although preliminary information indicated five deaths, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, additional official confirmation is needed regarding the victims’ identities, the suspect’s identity, and the circumstances of the shooting.
The reported involvement of a Good Samaritan also requires confirmation from investigators.
This remains a developing story. Further details should be added as law enforcement and school officials release verified information about the shooting and the investigation.