State Parks in Central Oregon Waive Fees to Help Local Families Affected by Bend Shooting

Published 10/16/2026 at 8:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Salem, Oregon) – After Thursday's shooting at a grade school in Bend, Oregon, state officials have not only lowered all flags but they're waiving state parks parking fees in that part of the state over the weekend. (Photos courtesy Oregon State Parks)

“In support of the Silver Rail Elementary families and all of our Central Oregon community, Oregon State Parks is waiving parking fees in the area,” OPRD said.

This includes the following day use parks that typically charge fees for parking: LaPine State Park, Tumalo State Park, Prineville Reservoir State Park, Smith Rock State Park, Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint, and The Cove Palisades State Park.

“Through compassion, empathy, and kindness - we uphold our parks as places of healing and support,” OPRD said.

The waiver does not apply to central Oregon coast state parks or others in the state outside of those mentioned.

The deadly shooting unfolded Thursday afternoon inside Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, where four people were killed in a single classroom - three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, and a teacher. Two others, a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher, were critically injured and taken to a Bend hospital.

Investigators identified the shooter as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II of Bend. According to police, he threw a shotgun over the school’s perimeter fence shortly after 1 p.m., then climbed over himself. He forced entry by firing into the glass panes of an exterior set of double doors. After breaking through, officers say he turned left into a classroom and fired as many as 15 rounds.

He was stopped by a good samaritan who fired his gun at the boy, after following him into the school.

Authorities continue to investigate the sequence of events and the shooter’s movements leading up to the attack.

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