Rhoam Summer’s father has spoken publicly after the five-year-old was killed in an Oregon elementary school shooting.
Kelik Summer, the boy’s father, confirmed in a Facebook post on a community group that his son died Thursday at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend. The attack left three children and one teacher dead, with two others critically wounded.
“Hey everyone. Today has been the worst day of my life. 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,” Summer wrote on the social media platform.
A Meal Train fundraiser created for the family had raised close to $75,000 by the time of reporting. The organizer described the Summer family as “grieving the heartbreaking loss of their sweet 5-year-old son, Rhoam.”
“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,” the fundraiser stated.
The campaign continued: “As they navigate the days and weeks ahead, we want to come together as a community to surround them with love, compassion, and support.”
It added: “We’ve created this Meal Train to help ease the burden of everyday responsibilities so they can focus on being together, grieving, and taking things one day at a time.”
The other young victims killed were eight and 11 years old. A seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher survived but remained in critical condition at a hospital following the Thursday violence.
Police spokesperson Sheila Miller said the 16-year-old attacker forced entry by shooting at locked doors. A community member inside the school fatally shot the teen shortly after police arrived at the scene, Miller added.
Senior law enforcement officers identified the alleged perpetrator as John J. Griffin II. It was not immediately clear whether the teenager had any connection to Silver Rail Elementary School.
The Meal Train organizer emphasized that community support could take many forms. “Whether you’re able to provide a meal, send a gift card, or simply keep this family in your thoughts and prayers, every gesture of kindness means more than words can express,” the page read.
“Thank you for helping us care for this family during the most heartbreaking time of their lives,” it concluded.
The Bend shooting marked another instance of violence in an American elementary school, with the youngest victim a kindergartener just beginning his education.