(Update: Police confirm three dead, including suspect; hospital in lockout)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Someone wielding an assault-style rifle opened fire in the parking lot of a northeast Bend shopping center Sunday evening and soon entered a Safeway store where three people were killed, including the suspect, police confirmed.
Officers and medics rushed to the Forum Shopping Center just after 7 p.m. after numerous reports of gunshots and unconfirmed reports of one or two gunmen and at least one person dead.
Just before 8:30 p.m., St. Charles spokeswoman Lisa Goodman confirmed that they had received two people, one who was dead on arrival and another reported to be in good condition. A short time later, she said the hospital had been placed in a lockout.
Minutes later, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller told reporters three people had been shot and killed, including the alleged gunman.
Miller said the gunfire began in the parking lot near the nearby Costco and Big Lots stores, then the armed subject proceded into Safeway.
She said someone was engaged at the front of the grocery store and someone else at the produce area in the back. The shooter was found to be dead, Miller said.
One of the firearms is an AR-15 assault-style weapon, Miller said.
The police spokeswoman said that a “shelter in place” warning is still in effect in the area “out of an abundance of caution.”
Goodman said shortly before 9 p.m. that “the hospital is on lockout and we are encouraging people to stay away unless they are experiencing a medical emergency.”
Deschutes County 911 dispatchers received numerous calls just after 7 p.m. reporting multiple gunshots heard in the area of the shopping center, at Highway 20 and Northeast 27th Street.
Some callers reportedly said they saw someone dressed all black, while others said a male subject holding two duffel bags who may have entered the grocery store.
Others heard gunshots from the nearby Costco, to the east.
Bend police said in a tweet that there was “an active investigation in the area of The Forum Shopping Center. Please avoid the area. More updates to come as the investigation continues.”
Bend police, Oregon State Police, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies, Oregon State Police and Bend Fire & Rescue medics converged on the scene, including numerous armed officers and armored vehicles, amid reports one or more suspects may have left the area.
NewsChannel 21 has crews on the scene and on the way and we’ll have details as soon as possible