A father of two elementary school students and a teacher helped stop a deadly school shooting in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The attack at Silver Rail Elementary School killed three children and a teacher before 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco entered the building and fatally shot the teenage gunman.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz confirmed Friday that Giamanco and an unidentified teacher intervened during the attack. The teacher confronted the gunman inside a classroom, while Giamanco followed him into the school with a legally possessed handgun.
The victims included children ages 5, 8 and 11 and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. A 7-year-old student and another teacher were wounded, bringing the number of people shot by the attacker to six.
Police identified the gunman as Griffin J. John II, a 16-year-old Bend resident and former student at Silver Rail Elementary. Investigators have not established a motive for the attack.
Father Rushes Into School After Hearing Gunfire
Giamanco was near Silver Rail Elementary when the shooting began shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday. His two daughters attend the school, and he was in the area when he became aware of the violence.
According to police, he retrieved a legally possessed .40-caliber handgun from his vehicle and approached the school after hearing gunfire.
The attacker had already forced his way inside by shooting through the glass of locked entrance doors.
Giamanco followed him through the damaged entrance and encountered a teacher struggling with the gunman inside a classroom.
Police said Giamanco fired multiple rounds, striking the teenager and ending the attack before officers reached the gunman.
The first emergency call was received at approximately 12:59 p.m. Officers arrived at 1:02 p.m. and found the attacker dead inside the building.
The rapid intervention drew praise from police, elected officials and families affected by the shooting.
Giamanco's mother, Kenda Freeman, publicly identified her son Friday and confirmed that he was responsible for stopping the gunman.
She explained that her son did not want publicity and was grateful for the support shown by emergency responders, school employees and the surrounding community.
The family asked for privacy as Giamanco and his daughters dealt with the aftermath of the attack.
Teacher Fought Gunman Inside Classroom
Police also credited an unidentified teacher with protecting students during the attack.
The teacher confronted the gunman after he entered a classroom serving students with special educational needs.
According to investigators, she threw her cellphone at the attacker before tackling him and attempting to wrestle away his shotgun.
The struggle interrupted the attack and gave Giamanco an opportunity to intervene.
The teacher was not injured during the confrontation.
Krantz praised her willingness to protect the children and said her actions almost certainly prevented additional deaths.
The intervention was particularly significant because the shooter had already fired numerous rounds inside the classroom.
Police estimate that he discharged approximately 15 shotgun rounds during the attack. Investigators recovered additional ammunition from the teenager.
The teacher's actions and Giamanco's arrival ended the shooting within minutes of the first emergency call.
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook thanked both individuals for their intervention and said he believed their actions saved lives.
Gunman Entered School With Shotgun
Investigators released additional information Friday about how the teenager reached the school and entered the building.
Police said John approached Silver Rail Elementary from an undeveloped area near the campus shortly before 1 p.m.
He threw a shotgun over a perimeter fence and climbed over after it.
A motorist driving a red Toyota pickup noticed the armed teenager and called out to him.
The teenager responded by firing at least three shots toward the vehicle. The driver continued away from the scene and made the first emergency call.
After crossing the school grounds, John fired through the glass panes of a locked entrance and entered the building.
He then moved into a classroom containing children from different grade levels who were receiving special education services.
Police said all four people who died were shot inside that classroom.
Investigators identified the weapon as a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun. The gunman carried different types of ammunition, including birdshot, buckshot and slugs.
Authorities were still investigating how he obtained the weapon and ammunition.
Earlier reporting indicated that the shotgun had been purchased by the teenager's mother, but police had not completed their findings about how it came into his possession.
Officials also confirmed that the teenager had previously attended Silver Rail Elementary.
His reasons for returning to the school and attacking the classroom remain unknown.
Four Victims Killed, Two Others Wounded
Among those killed was 5-year-old Rhoam Summer, whose family publicly confirmed his death.
Relatives remembered him as an energetic child who enjoyed climbing, reading and caring for his stuffed animals.
Rhoam's father, Kelik Summer, expressed his grief in a statement shared after the shooting. The family described the loss as devastating.
The teacher who died was identified as Megan Lambert, 25, a Central Oregon native who had wanted to work in education from an early age.
Her family said Silver Rail Elementary was her first permanent teaching position after she had worked as a substitute.
Lambert also enjoyed volleyball and had coached young players. Her family described her as compassionate and devoted to helping children.
The other two children killed were ages 8 and 11. Authorities initially withheld additional identifying information while families were notified and supported.
Two other victims survived the shooting.
A 7-year-old child was hospitalized with serious injuries, while 54-year-old teacher Becky Drury suffered gunshot wounds to her arm and hand.
Drury underwent surgery and was expected to survive, according to police and family statements.
Authorities said the injuries were serious but not believed to be life-threatening.
The victims' families were receiving support as investigators continued examining the attack.
Oregon Governor Praises Intervention
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek publicly thanked the people who intervened, acknowledging that their actions prevented further loss of life.
Kotek also recognized the emotional impact of confronting an armed attacker during a school shooting.
President Donald Trump praised the armed parent Friday, describing his intervention as important in preventing additional casualties.
Police emphasized that the classroom teacher also played a critical role in stopping the violence.
The incident has generated attention because a civilian parent and a school employee acted before responding officers could reach the attacker.
However, the intervention came after four people had already been killed and two others seriously wounded.
The tragedy has renewed questions about school security, access to firearms and how communities can protect children from attacks that unfold within minutes.
Bend Community Mourns Children and Teacher
Residents gathered outside Silver Rail Elementary following the shooting, leaving flowers, candles and stuffed animals near the school.
Families and community members attended vigils to remember the victims and support those affected.
Bend, a Central Oregon city with approximately 100,000 residents, has experienced significant growth in recent decades. Silver Rail Elementary serves families in a residential neighborhood.
The shooting deeply affected students who heard gunfire and witnessed the emergency response.
Some children described hiding in classrooms and fearing that the attacker might reach them.
School officials arranged support for families and employees as the community began responding to the tragedy.
Investigators continued gathering witness statements and examining the shooter's background, including any possible connection between his previous enrollment and the classroom he attacked.
Police have not announced a motive or established whether the attack involved a specific grievance.
The department is also investigating how the 16-year-old obtained the shotgun and ammunition used in the shooting.
For Giamanco and the teacher who confronted the attacker, the public recognition has come amid a community's grief over four lives lost.
Their actions are now part of an investigation that must determine why the teenager attacked the school and whether warning signs existed before the violence began.