A 5-year-old child has been identified as the youngest victim in Thursday's mass shooting at an elementary school in Oregon, relatives said. Kelik Summer confirmed in a Facebook post late Thursday that his son Rhoam Summer had been among the victims at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, where a 16-year-old gunman killed three children and a teacher before a father of two students at the school fatally shot him. "Today has been the worst day of my life," Summer wrote on social media.
"My son Rhoam was killed in a school shooting. We are broken and lost, but are surrounded by friends and family who are keeping us safe." Kelik Summer, of Bend, posted the somber announcement in a Facebook community group. A family spokesperson also confirmed Rhoam Summer had been killed during Thursday's mass shooting, NBC News reported.
Rhoam's family said they were devastated by his tragic death, his grandfather told the New York Times. "The whole thing is senseless, and a shock," Bryan Jolly told the newspaper. "He was in my house a lot, and in my garden with me, and wrestling with me on the couch." Jolly characterized his grandson as "very bright and very mischievous and very fun-loving, and totally without fear," the newspaper reported.
An online fundraiser for Rhoam's family had eclipsed $35,000 as of Friday afternoon. "In the wake of an unimaginable tragedy, the Summer family is grieving the heartbreaking loss of their sweet 5-year-old son, Rhoam," the site reads. "There are no words that can ease the pain of losing a child, and no family should ever have to experience a loss like this.
As they navigate the days and weeks ahead, we want to come together as a community to surround them with love, compassion, and support." Five people died, including three children, a teacher and the assailant, during Thursday's shooting. A 7-year-old student and 54-year-old teacher were also injured and taken to a hospital in critical condition. None of their identities had been immediately released by authorities.
Roughly 500 people gathered at a vigil in Drake Park late Thursday, including Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler, The Bulletin reported. "Usually I would say it’s wonderful to see so many people from our community come together, but this is a day that every mayor dreads," Kebler told the crowd. "This is a dark day, an awful day.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
