Crime
Assistant Principal Nerissa Lee Identified Among Victims in Fatal Triple Shooting Outside Berwyn School
Authorities have identified Nerissa Lee, Assistant Principal at Lincoln Middle School, as one of three individuals killed during a shooting that occurred in Berwyn on Tuesday afternoon.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed her identity late Tuesday, and the school district later issued a statement acknowledging her tragic death.
The incident unfolded on September 16, 2025, around 4:00 p.m., in front of Lincoln Middle School, located near 16th Street and Elmwood Avenue.
According to officials, police officers in the area witnessed a man armed with a rifle firing multiple rounds into a vehicle parked outside the school.
As officers attempted to take cover, the suspect also fired in their direction before turning the weapon on himself, resulting in his death.
Two individuals inside the targeted vehicle, including Assistant Principal Lee, were fatally struck by gunfire. A third victim was also pronounced deceased.
The motive for the attack remains under investigation.In response to the tragedy, Lincoln Middle School was closed on Wednesday, with district officials indicating plans to reopen the campus the following day.
Counselors and crisis support teams have been made available to assist grieving students, staff, and families.
District leaders described Ms. Lee as a dedicated educator deeply loved by her students and colleagues. “Her passing is a devastating loss for our school community,” the district’s statement read.
Community members are being asked to keep the families of the victims, as well as the students and staff of Lincoln Middle School, in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Crime
5 dead including 3 children in Silver Rail Elementary shooting in Bend, teenage shooter killed by a Good Samaritan
BEND, Ore. — 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.