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BEND, Ore. (BFMG) — Three children and a teacher were killed Thursday afternoon when a 16-year-old gunman opened fire inside an Oregon elementary school, targeting a classroom serving students with special needs before an armed parent intervened and fatally shot the teenager, authorities said.
The shooting happened October 15 at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, leaving four victims dead and two others critically injured.
Police identified the suspected gunman as Griffin J. John II, (16), a former student who previously attended special education classes at the same school.
The victims included three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, and 25-year-old Megan Lambert, an educational assistant who worked with students at the school.
A 7-year-old student and 54-year-old teacher were also seriously injured and transported to area hospitals.
Authorities have not identified a motive for the attack.
Gunman Shoots Through Locked Doors to Enter School
According to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz, the teenager approached Silver Rail Elementary School shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday carrying a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun.
A passing motorist noticed the armed teenager and confronted him. The suspect fired multiple rounds toward the motorist’s vehicle before continuing toward the school.
Despite the school’s locked exterior doors, investigators said the teenager gained access to the building by shooting through the entrance.
Once inside, he opened fire in a classroom serving students with special needs.
Investigators said the teenager was armed with a Maverick 88 shotgun and used several types of ammunition, including birdshot, buckshot and slugs.
Authorities recovered 44 additional rounds of ammunition from the suspect’s belongings.
Teacher Confronts Gunman During Shooting
As gunfire erupted inside the classroom, a teacher attempted to physically stop the teenager.
Investigators said the teacher threw her cellphone at the gunman before tackling him and struggling with him.
The teacher survived the confrontation without injury.
Meanwhile, a 36-year-old man who had witnessed the attack outside followed the suspect into the school.
The man, who was legally carrying a .40-caliber handgun, encountered the teenager inside the classroom and fired several shots, killing him.
Authorities credited the intervention with bringing the attack to an end and potentially preventing additional casualties.
Armed Parent Identified as Man Who Stopped Shooter
The armed bystander was publicly identified by his family as Kaylub Giamanco, a father of two daughters who attend Silver Rail Elementary School.
Giamanco lives near the school and reportedly encountered the unfolding emergency while driving through the neighborhood.
His mother, Kenda Freeman, released a statement Friday explaining that her son was not interested in receiving public recognition for his actions.
Instead, the family expressed gratitude to first responders, school employees and members of the community who offered support following the tragedy.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek praised Giamanco’s actions, describing his intervention as heroic.
Victims Remembered
Among those killed was Megan Lambert, (25), an educational assistant who had recently accepted a full-time position at Silver Rail Elementary.
Lambert previously worked as a substitute teacher and was remembered by her family as someone deeply committed to helping children.
Her family described the position at Silver Rail as her dream job.
Lambert was also involved in youth athletics and coached volleyball in Central Oregon.
Authorities also publicly identified 5-year-old Rhoam Summer as one of the children killed in the shooting, following a request from his family.
The other two children who died were (8) and 11 years old.
The names of those children had not been publicly released as of Friday.
Suspect Previously Attended School
Investigators confirmed that John previously attended Silver Rail Elementary School and had been enrolled in the school’s special education program.
The teenager’s connection to the school, particularly the classroom where the shooting occurred, has become a central focus of the investigation.
Authorities are working to determine why he returned to the school and whether he intentionally targeted the classroom.
Investigators also are examining how the teenager obtained the shotgun used in the attack.
Reports indicate that the firearm had been purchased by his mother, although local police had not publicly confirmed that detail during their Friday briefing.
A search warrant was executed at the suspect’s residence as investigators continued collecting evidence.
Questions Surround School Security
The shooting has raised concerns about security procedures at Silver Rail Elementary, which serves approximately 450 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Although the school’s exterior doors were locked, authorities said the suspect was able to enter by firing his shotgun through the entrance.
Investigators are reviewing the school’s security measures, emergency response procedures and the timeline of the attack.
Police also confirmed that a school resource officer assigned to multiple schools in the district was at another campus when the shooting occurred.
The attack ended within minutes, but four victims had already suffered fatal injuries.
Police Ask Public for Surveillance Footage
The Bend Police Department (BPD) is continuing its investigation with assistance from federal authorities.
Investigators are asking residents and businesses near the school to review surveillance footage captured between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on October 15.
Police are particularly interested in footage showing a teenage male wearing black pants, a black shirt and a black backpack in the area surrounding the school.
Authorities hope the footage will help establish the suspect’s movements before the shooting.
Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Community Mourns as Investigation Continues
The shooting has devastated the Bend community, where residents gathered for vigils and memorials to honor the victims.
Flowers, candles and messages of remembrance have been placed outside the school as families and educators grapple with the violence.
School district officials said Silver Rail Elementary would remain closed while investigators processed the scene and administrators determined how to move forward.
Authorities have not announced when students will return to the building.
For investigators, significant questions remain about the teenager’s motive, his access to the firearm and whether warning signs existed before the attack.
The shooting has also renewed nationwide discussions about school security, firearm access and the role of armed civilians in responding to active shooters.
The investigation remains ongoing, stay tuned for the latest.
