Teacher and Armed Parent Stopped Oregon School Shooter, Police Say
A teacher tackled a 16-year-old former student who opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on October 15, 2026, allowing an armed parent to fatally shoot the gunman and stop the attack, authorities said.
Teacher and Armed Parent Intervene During Special Education Classroom Attack
The 16-year-old gunman, identified by police as Griffin J. John II, climbed over a school fence after throwing a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun ahead of him, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said during an October 16 news conference reported by MS NOW. A driver in a red pickup truck confronted the teenager from the street, prompting the teen to fire at least three shots at the vehicle.
A 36-year-old parent, Kaylub Giamanco, witnessed the shooting from his vehicle while driving nearby with his two daughters who attend the school. Giamanco drove into the parking lot, retrieved a legally secured .40-caliber pistol from his car, and followed the teenager into the building, according to police statements reported by Yahoo. The assailant forced entry through external double doors, shooting out the glass panes, and entered a special education classroom where he fired roughly 15 rounds.
Inside the classroom, an unnamed female teacher confronted the gunman, threw her cellphone at him, and wrestled with him for his firearm. That intervention allowed Giamanco to enter the room, fire multiple times, and kill the shooter just as officers arrived. Police arrived at 1:02 p.m., three minutes after the initial 911 call, to find the suspect dead.
Four Victims Killed and Several Injured in Bend Elementary School Shooting
The attack left four people dead, including three children and one staff member. Authorities identified the deceased victims as Rhoam Summer, a 5-year-old student, and Meghan Lambert, a 25-year-old first-year teacher working in what her family described in a statement as her dream job. The families of the other two child victims, ages 8 and 11, asked for privacy and declined to share their names publicly.
The 25-year-old teacher killed on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, was remembered by her family in a written statement read aloud at Friday’s news conference as someone who was compassionate and had a huge heart. She always fought for the underdog and those with special needs,
the family said in a statement. Her family added that working at Silver Rail was a dream job
for her.
Two others sustained serious injuries inside the classroom. A 7-year-old girl received lifesaving care at the scene and was listed in serious but stable condition at St. Charles Bend hospital. A 54-year-old female educational assistant suffered serious, non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators recovered a backpack and approximately 44 remaining rounds of 12-gauge ammunition on the shooter or inside his backpack. Police noted that the teenager had previously attended Silver Rail Elementary School as a special education student but was no longer enrolled in the Bend-La Pine school district at the time of the shooting.
Community Response and Ongoing Investigation Into Motive
Kenda Freeman, the mother of the parent who shot the gunman, released a statement indicating that her son was not seeking recognition but wished to express gratitude to first responders, school personnel, and the community. President Donald Trump publicly praised Giamanco during a Friday news conference, calling him a great hero who took care of business.
Families affected by the tragedy, along with local residents, gathered near the school following the attack to leave flowers and candles outside police tape. Michael Zappa, 71, who lives just blocks from the school, spoke to reporters through tears outside the cordon, saying, Thank God for that father,
and adding, He saved a lot of lives yesterday, and our prayers should go out for him because he has a lot on his mind today.
Unanswered Questions Remain
Police and community members continue to grapple with unanswered questions regarding the motivation behind the shooting and how the teenage suspect obtained the weapon, and authorities have not yet determined what drove the 16-year-old to carry out the attack.