Bend Father Credited With Stopping School Gunman as City Mourns Four Killed

BEND, Ore. — Kaylub Giamanco was driving past his daughters’ elementary school on Wednesday afternoon when he saw a teenager shooting at a pickup truck. Within minutes, the 36-year-old carpenter had followed the gunman inside Silver Rail Elementary School and shot him dead in a classroom. Police say a teacher was struggling with the gunman for his shotgun at the time.

Authorities say the October 15 attack killed three boys, ages 5, 8 and 11, and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. The youngest victim was identified as Rhoam Summer. A 7-year-old girl and 54-year-old teacher Becky Drury were wounded. By Friday afternoon, officials said the girl was in serious but stable condition and that Drury’s injuries were serious but not life-threatening.

Police identified the gunman as Griffin John II, a 16-year-old former student at the school. Investigators say that shortly before 1 p.m. he climbed a fence and fired at a nearby vehicle. He then used a shotgun to break through the school’s locked entrance and went into a special-education classroom. Investigators had not determined a motive as of Friday and were searching his home and reviewing evidence.

Inside the classroom, a teacher whose name has not been released confronted him. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said she threw her cellphone at the gunman, tackled him and fought to take his weapon. Giamanco came in during the struggle and shot the attacker. The teacher was not hurt.

Police said the gunman still had about 44 rounds of ammunition when the attack ended. Officials credited both the teacher and Giamanco with preventing more deaths.

Giamanco’s family told ABC News that he has a concealed-carry permit and that the handgun he used was legally owned. According to The Times, he was heading home after lunch when he came upon the shooting. His mother told the newspaper he was traumatized by what he saw, and the family has largely stayed out of the public eye.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek thanked the civilian who intervened. She also acknowledged the toll it may take on him. “Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden,” Kotek said, adding that her thoughts were with him.

Across Bend, families spent the hours after the shooting searching for their children. Students were taken by bus to a nearby church, where parents arrived with stuffed animals and other comfort items and held their children tightly as they left. The Bend-La Pine School District canceled classes, sports and all other activities Friday at its 32 schools.

Outside Silver Rail, flowers and candles piled up as residents mourned the three boys and Lambert. Her family said teaching had been her dream job. The school community now faces the long recovery of the two wounded survivors and the trauma left with everyone who witnessed the attack.

Nothing Giamanco did could undo those losses. But police say his decision to go into the school, together with a teacher’s refusal to back down, stopped a gunman who was still armed and able to keep killing.