A shooting during class hours at an elementary school in the western U.S. state of Oregon has left at least five people dead.

At around 1 p.m. local time on the 15th, an armed intruder broke into Silverrail Elementary School in the central Oregon city of Bend and opened fire.

The suspect first fired at a vehicle parked outside the school before entering the building. While facing off against police officers who responded to the scene following emergency calls, the suspect was shot and died at the scene.

Police have not yet released the identity of the gunman, but U.S. broadcaster CNN reported that the suspect is known to be a 16-year-old male.

The death toll from the shooting has been counted at least five, according to the Associated Press citing multiple law enforcement officials, though it remains unclear whether that figure includes the gunman.

Police stated that children were among the victims.

CNN reported that three children and one adult were killed.

The Bend-La Pine Schools district, which includes the school, has placed the school on lockdown.

Silverrail Elementary School, which serves grades kindergarten through fifth, has a total enrollment of 462 students, 80 percent of whom are white and 20 percent of whom come from low-income families, according to The Oregonian, citing state government data.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)