BEND, OR. — Just four days after a devastating shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School claimed the lives of three children and a beloved teacher, the parents of the youngest victim are taking steps to find out how such a tragedy could have happened.
Kelik and Lillian Summer, whose 5-year-old son Rhoam was killed in the October 15 attack, have retained three law firms to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
According to Central Oregon Daily, the family’s decision was announced Monday, October 19, as the Bend community continues to mourn the lives lost in one of the darkest tragedies in its history.
The firms representing the family are Dwyer Williams & Cherkoss, Simon Greenstone & Panatier, and Worthington & Caron. Together, they intend to examine whether failures in school security, warning procedures, or access to firearms may have contributed to the attack.
Could the Shooting Have Been Prevented?
That question is now at the center of the family’s independent investigation.
In a statement released Monday through Business Wire, Bend attorney Tim Williams, who is serving as co-counsel, expressed his disbelief that such an attack could take place in the community.
“But was it foreseeable and thus preventable?” Williams asked in the statement.
The attorneys say they will examine whether Silver Rail Elementary had appropriate security procedures in place, whether those procedures were followed, and whether any previous warnings involving the shooter might have been overlooked.
The investigation will also look closely at how the 16-year-old attacker obtained the shotgun used in the killings, where the weapon was purchased, and how he was able to enter the school.
Those are questions the legal team intends to investigate, not findings of negligence or wrongdoing. The October 19 announcement did not identify any party as legally responsible or announce that a lawsuit had been filed.
The attorneys’ stated goal is to establish what happened, determine whether anyone should be held accountable, and explore potential legal claims on behalf of the Summer family.
A Family Grieving an Unimaginable Loss
Rhoam was just 5 years old, a kindergartner whose life had barely begun.
He was among three children killed when a former student entered Silver Rail Elementary on Thursday, October 15, and opened fire. A teacher also died in the attack, while another student and educator were injured.
In the days following the shooting, Rhoam’s loved ones have shared memories of a happy, energetic little boy whose presence brought joy to those around him.
His family has asked that he be remembered for his smile and playful personality, rather than solely for the terrible circumstances of his death.
As That Oregon Life previously reported, a community fundraiser was organized to support the Summer family as they navigate an unimaginable loss.
Now, alongside that grief, comes a search for answers.
Attorneys Seek Information From Witnesses and Families
The legal team has established a dedicated way for survivors, witnesses, and other families affected by the shooting to share information relevant to its investigation.
Attorneys say they will examine the events leading up to the attack and the security measures intended to protect the children and educators inside the school.
For the Summer family, the investigation represents an effort to understand what happened to their son and whether anything could have been done to keep him safe.
Nothing can undo the loss of Rhoam or the other victims whose lives were taken that Thursday afternoon. But his parents are now seeking answers to questions that extend beyond their own family and affect an entire community struggling to understand how this could happen.
As Bend continues to grieve, the investigation may help establish whether there were opportunities to prevent the violence, and what changes could help protect other children in the future.
Sources: Central Oregon Daily; October 19 statement from the Summer family’s legal team, published by Business Wire.
